Donald James "Jim" Kraft

Donald James "Jim" Kraft passed away on Tuesday, December 17th in Maryville, Missouri, after a long fight with old age, but still looking handsome as ever. He was just five days shy of his 91st birthday where he had already made plans to celebrate with a ribeye and a gin martini.

Jim was born on December 22nd, 1933, in Cavalier, North Dakota, the only son of Mabel and Morris Kraft. Jim was raised on a beautiful farm outside of Clyde, North Dakota. He was a hard worker and loved animals, especially his dog, Trixie. Jim went to high school in Clyde where he was an active participant in both basketball and baseball. Jim narrowly missed being named valedictorian of his graduating class. It was a class of three, but the competition was fierce. Jim went on to go to college at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He majored in business and was an active member in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and was a lifelong fan of the Fighting Sioux. After college, Jim worked in California briefly before coming back to North Dakota to begin work for Firestone. He would continue to work at Firestone for almost fifty years, working even after retirement helping with the finance side until he reluctantly hung it up at 81. 

Jim found the love of his life, Rose Doll, in Bismarck, North Dakota. They married on February 15th, 1971. They made their home in Bismarck before moving to Fergus Falls and then finally Devils Lake where they would live for 49 years. They had three kids: Brent, Adams, and Kirsten. Jim was a huge supporter of all their endeavors. Even the dumb ones. 

He was a member of both the Elks and the Eagles in Devils Lake and enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing league pool, and reading. Jim had a big personality and a sly sense of humor and loved making people laugh.

Jim is survived by his wife of 53 years, Rose Kraft of Marville, MO; children Brent (Denys) Kraft of Cabot, AR; Adams Kraft, Fargo, ND; and Kirsten (Craig) Borey, Maryville, MO; grandchildren, Nicholas Kraft, Jacob Kraft, Lorien Chase, Thea Borey and Isla Borey.

Services were under the direction of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville, Missouri.