Paul Fredrick Kraft, Sr. 1926-2006
Paul Frederick Kraft, Sr. was born on
August 8, 1926, to Antoinette Kistner Kraft and George A. Kraft and into a family that included one half-brother, Frank G.
Kraft, two half-sisters, Esther Kraft Janes and Dorothy Kraft Jenks, and a younger sister, Anna Kraft Sadtler.
Baptized at St. Mary’s Church in
New Albany, Paul would be a life-long member there except for ten years of his married life when he (and his family) belonged
to St. Mary’s Church at Navilleton.
Paul’s early years were lived in
the family apartment above the Kraft Funeral Home on Spring Street. While Paul
attended nearby St. Mary’s School, he learned the principles and ideals of providing good funeral service as practiced
by his fathers who ran the family business – instituted by Paul’s great-grandfather, George Kraft, continued by
his grandfather, Frank A. Kraft, and inherited by Paul’s father. During
these years were instilled into Paul values he demonstrated his entire life – a truly unselfish love and concern for
family, friends, and the people he served with so much respect and humility.
Paul’s high school years were good
ones; classes with teachers he liked; lunch at the Nook with friends; working after school for Freeman Cleaners; evenings
at the cottage, and above all time spend with Dorothy Ann Hedgewald whom he met in the 9th grade and who became increasingly
more important to him during their years together at N.A.H.S. Although these
good times were overshadowed by WWII and the inevitable loss of friends to the armed services, his sense of humor and irrepressible
love of fun made this a happy, carefree time for Paul and Dot. During these years, values
were instilled into Paul that he demonstrated throughout his life.
Another talent surfaced during Paul’s
years at N.A.H.S. when he began percussion lessons, bought a set of drums, and formed a small band that played big-band
music. His band entertained at school assemblies; but one such performance was
canceled by the principal when Paul and his friends were caught cutting school, something they did on a regular basis to give
friends departing for military service a proper send off. Paul never lost his
love of music and in later years it became a tradition at his own children’s wedding receptions to sit in with the band
with a drum solo to the delight of all present. Perhaps the height of this musical
career came when he played an impromptu solo with the Queen’s Royal Marching Band on a trip to London.
After graduating in 1944, Paul was drafted
into the army; he completed his basic training and was shipped to the Pacific
shortly before WWII ended. There he spent long hours on the island of Oahu guarding prisoners of war and writing long letters to Dot planning their future together.
His service time completed, Paul enrolled
in the Kentucky School of Mortuary Sciences under the GI Bill. The habit of cutting
classes was not lost as he and fellow students could often be found at a nearby bar instead of in class. Paul completed the necessary studies to become a funeral director and joined his father and brother in
the family business. He and Dot were married on September 1, 1947, thus beginning
a remarkable life together that would continue more than 50 years. Together they
produced an equally remarkable group of children: Paul, Jr.; Charles; Kurt; Nancy;
Brad; Robert; Joe; and John who, in turn, would marry and give them 23 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. They settled their growing family into a large old home on Silver Hills;
Paul worked long hours at the family business while Dot working equally long hours caring for their home and the children. It was Dot’s decision to make family vacations affordable by buying a small
camper that marked the beginning of years of family fun, camping in Florida beaches, at Disney World, throughout the west,
every year at Land Between the Lakes with friends, and especially in the North Carolina mountains, Paul’s favorite vacation
spot where he could hunt gemstones or simply relax by the Cullasaja River.
In 1975, with five children still at
home, Paul bought a small farm on Navilleton Road where the family enjoyed ten years of growing vegetables, raising a variety
of animals, and especially making so many good friends in the Navilleton community.
They left this home with regret when all of their children were away at school or married, and they moved back to Silver
Hills but in a much smaller home.
Paul’s three oldest sons joined
him in running the family business. In 1986, Paul decided to sell the business
to them; he continued working at the funeral home but pulled back from many of the responsibilities of management
in order to enjoy some relaxation and retirement.
Paul soon discovered he was not
ready for this less-active life; and in 1999, he founded a new funeral home, Generations Funeral Home, with two of his younger
children.
A new challenge presented itself when
Dot became ill, and Paul devoted himself to her care for several years until her death in April of 2003. He continued to work at Generations Funeral Home, and the last three years of his life were made happier
again by the companionship of his beloved friends and family members.
When Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer, he accepted this without complaint
and, true to his nature, did all that he could to make this situation easier for everyone else. Paul was anointed often
and fully prepared to meet his Lord. He died with his family around him on Sunday, August 6, 2006.
For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hand,
and your joy will be complete.
Deuteronomy
16:15
- Written
with love by his sister, Anna Kraft Sadtler
