Ingrid Ann Craft

Ingrid Ann (Gross) Craft, 76, of Noblesville passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 16.

Ingrid was born on May 28, 1946, in La Porte, Indiana. She was the daughter of the late George and Florence (Palm) Gross. She grew up in La Porte and graduated from La Porte High School and then attended Indiana University.

She met the love of her life on a blind date in 1967. She married Donald E. Craft on Jan. 6, 1968, in La Porte. They moved to Veedersburg in 1968 where they raised their family before moving to the lake house in Noblesville in 2020. Dad noted that he didn't really need to get her a house, just a patio on the lake – she just loved overlooking the water.

Those that knew Ingrid knew she poured herself into her family and into her community. Her list of giving back, generosity and community involvement is long: Girl Scout leader, member of United Methodist Women's group, Tri Kappa member, Tri Kappa officer roles over 40 years – she joined Covington in 1975 and helped start the Veedersburg chapter in 1982, charity bingo fundraiser for Tri Kappa and continued to assist with transition to support the Veedersburg Hub Center, Western Indiana/Southeast Foundation Community Foundation Board Member, ABC Book Club Member, Monday Club Member, Fountain County Art Council Member, Veedersburg UMC & Sterling Church Member, Bowling club, Coffeenian's Bridge Club Member, Conquer Paralysis Now Foundation Committee member, Fountain Central Food Backpack Program, FAST Swim Team mom, helped coordinate/plan numerous community events like the Veedersburg street fair, Old Settler's, Art Council shows and events, the annual wine event for Foundation and helped start the local pre-school. She was honored for her work as being one of the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial torchbearers for Fountain County.

When she was not giving back, she sure had fun coordinating the family holiday traditions, trips to Boyne Mountain, Florida, and to Craft Cabin in Canada to bring family together. She attended all the events of her children or grandchildren and they loved her there cheering for them and that loss will hit them the hardest. Her Swedish prayer at Christmas will be missed, but not the gross Lutefisk she would make. Ingrid hosted great parties and enjoyed playing golf/tennis at the club. She even skied through her 60s until she tore her ACL on the slopes, and she and Don loved being on the dance floor. She was competitive and loved playing Phase 10, euchre, canasta and Sorry with family. She cherished time at the lake and loved a nice boat ride.

Her business, Coal Creek Clay, which she created with her daughter, Rachael, in 2005, showed us all her creative talent in pottery, whether on the wheel or hand making beautiful pieces that they sold in shops around Indiana and at shows like Covered Bridge. Rachael plans to continue the tradition and company with her daughters.

Everyone felt part of Ingrid's family and she loved making everyone feel a part of her family. She is survived by her husband of 55 years on Jan. 6, Donald; along with two daughters, Gretchen Ann (Kevin) Helms and Rachael Ann (John Michael) Schatko, both of Noblesville; a son, Thomas R. (Haley) Craft of Veedersburg; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Fox, Sydney Fox, Jackson Helms, Grace Helms, Isabella Schatko, Haley Schatko and Cylus Craft; and many special nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces/nephews. She was also preceded by a son, Robert Michael Craft, and a brother, Gerald "Jerry" Gross.

Visitation will be held at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica, on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral services to be held at the funeral home on Saturday at 10 a.m. with Pastor Gary Johnson officiating. A graveside service will be held in the Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte on Saturday at 4 p.m. (3 p.m. Central).

Memorial contributions may be made to Conquer Paralysis Now, www.conquerparalysisnow.org – choose Ingrid Craft on the donation page – or mail a check with a note in her memory to the d'Arlier Cultural Center to support art classes in Veedersburg where mom learned and taught herself. (The d'Arlier Foundation c/o The Fountain Trust Company, 615 3rd Street, PO Box 8, Covington, IN, 47932, Note In Memory of Ingrid Craft.)

Condolences may be sent online at mausfuneralhome.com.