Donald Henry Kraft

Donald Henry (Don) Kraft

1936-2024

Donald Henry ("Don") Kraft was born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 23, 1936. His parents, Henry George Kraft and Violette Miller Kraft, had moved to Kansas City in the early 1930's because of his father's job transfer with Transcontinental Western Airline (later renamed TWA).

Don was baptized in 1939 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, was later confirmed there, and remained a member and lay leader of St. Mark's until 1994. He attended Pinkerton Grade School and Southeast High School, graduating in 1954. He then served in the US Navy.

Earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing/Retailing from the University of Kansas City (now known as UMKC) in 1962, Don worked as a travel agent for many years for the American Express Company. He met and fell in love with a Braniff travel agent, Elizabeth Sheidy, and in September 1974 their wedding ceremony was held at a Lutheran church on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Needless to say, their work as travel agents provided them with many opportunities to travel abroad.

In 1993, he retired from American Express. A year later, Don and Liz transferred their church membership to Immanuel Lutheran Church, where Don was heavily engaged in volunteer work both for Immanuel and for the Lutheran Church at large. He served on the boards of Lutheran High School, Lutheran Urban Mission Agency, Thrivent, and Lutheran Hour Ministries, among others. At Immanuel, Don served in the role he called "verger." For Don, that meant assisting the pastor in distributing the Lord's Supper, helping to maintain the facility, preparing the chancel area for worship, and "occasionally" burning incense in the sanctuary.

Still, Don always found time to meet for lunch or breakfast with his buddies from Southeast High School, and most of all, to care for his wife, Liz.

Don passed away unexpectedly at home on April 8, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, Richard Miller Kraft, who passed away in 2020. He is survived by his wife, Liz, and by two nephews, Mike Kraft and Stephen Kraft, as well as six grandnephews and grandnieces.

A memorial service for Don will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 4205 Tracy, Kansas City, MO 64110, on June 12, 2024, at 11:00 am. Memorials may be directed to Immanuel at PO Box 5326, Kansas City, MO 64131.