Paul Robert Kreft

Paul Robert Kreft Holt Paul Robert Kreft, 82, went to be with our Lord on January 9, 2009. Paul was born July 12, 1926 in Detroit to Vontress A. (Stangle) and Edwin August Kreft. He graduated from Henry Ford Trade School and entered the United States Army in 1944 proudly serving his country in Patton's 3rd Army in the European Theater. He was a liberator of Ebensee Concentration Camp in Austria. After the War, Paul attended Alma College where he met Anna Bertille "Tillie" Tobin. They were married on September 11, 1948 and after graduation he began his career teaching in Detroit. In 1956, Paul became a State Farm Insurance Agent and served the greater Lansing area for 37 years before retiring in 1992. Paul was a devout Roman Catholic, a member of Resurrection Parish and was dedicated to furthering Catholic education at Resurrection and Lansing Catholic Central High School. Paul especially loved all things related to MSU, where he did graduate work. He was a member of Downtown Coaches Club and was proud to fly his MSU flag beneath his beloved Stars and Stripes. Paul loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with his sons and many friends, and also enjoyed cars old and new, woodworking, and most of all, making people laugh. Paul's sense of humor, integrity and incredible dedication to his faith, family and friends will forever be remembered by the many, many people who loved and respected him. His loving nature and endearing laughter will truly be missed. Paul was preceded in death by his parents Vontress and Edwin Kreft, three brothers, Edwin Jr., Gerald and Richard Kreft and sister Eileen Hild, as well as brothers-in-law William Hermes, William Pioszak, George Tobin, and John Tobin and sisters-in-law Patricia and Hazel Tobin. Paul is survived by Tillie, his loving wife of 60 years, his 12 children, Stephen (Henrietta) of Grand Ledge, Michael of Traverse City, Thomas (Ann) of Holt, Joseph (Aileen) of Rives Junction, Mary Lisa Weatherford of Marquette, William of Charlotte, NC, Susan (Bruce) Beier of Bloomfield Hills, Laurie (Patrick) Smith of Mason, Patricia (Mark) Boyd of Waxhaw, NC, John (Kari) of Solon, OH, Jennifer of Redford, Daniel (Cheri) of Bath, 28 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother John (Mary) Kreft of Sterling Heights, sister Lois (Alfred) Duff of Waterford, sisters-in-law Jeanette Kreft of Sterling Heights, Dolores Tobin, Patricia Pioszak and Mary Hermes of Lansing, brother-in-law Michael (Betty) Tobin of St. Louis, MI, and many loving nieces and nephews. Paul's family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses and medical staff at Ingham Medical Center's Cardiac SICU, Sparrow Hospital, and Providence Hospital in Southfield, and Delhi Township EMS for the exceptional care and compassion they provided Paul during the past four months. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection in Lansing with the Rev. Fr. Dennis Theroux and the Rev. Fr. William Koenigsknecht as celebrants. Rite of Committal will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at the Palmer Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel, 520 E. Mt. Hope. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, MI, Lansing Catholic High School, Resurrection School, or the American Heart Association. Condolences can be made at www.palmerbush.com