Obituary

Robert (Bob) Joseph Kraft, age 87, was called to his heavenly home on April 13, 2023 after a brief illness.

Bob was born July 3, 1935 in Mandan, North Dakota, to Joe and Barbara Kraft. Bob was the oldest of nine children.

After a time in South Dakota, the family moved to a farm near Selfridge, North Dakota.  After graduating from Selfridge High School in 1954, Bob attended general mechanics school in Wahpeton, ND.

Bob married a Selfridge girl, Shirley McGregor, on May 14, 1957 after a two and a half year courtship.  After the wedding Bob and Shirley headed west on their honeymoon.  After a short stay with Bob’s sister and brother in law in Vancouver, Washington, Bob got a job at Boeing and he and Shirley lived in the South Seattle/Renton area for next 14 years. During this time daughters Renee and Cheryl were born.

In 1970, Boeing experienced the first major down turn in its history and as airplane sales declined precipitously, Bob looked north for other work. In 1971, he took a job at Intalco Aluminum Corporation, in Ferndale, Washington, and the family relocated to Lynden, Washington.

Bob and Shirley enjoyed spending time with their four grandsons and often attended their various activities.  Bob was active in his church. He and Shirley learned to square dance, and through that activity developed a number of close friendships.

In retirement, Bob and Shirley traveled in their fifth wheel trailer, volunteered at various Christian camps, and saw the sights along the way.

At family gatherings, which he loved so much, Bob was a fierce competitor in spirited card games with his children, grandchildren and siblings.

In May of 2010, after 53 years of marriage, Shirley passed away and Bob was a bachelor.

On December 30, 2011, Bob married Renee Walrod and they enjoyed more than 10 years of life together in the Bellingham area.

Bob is survived by his daughter Renee Butz (Peter) and their sons, Taylor and Michael; daughter Cheryl Van Dyken (Mark) and their sons Trent (fiancé Thomas) and Chad (fiancé Keirstin).

Stepchildren Cheri (Brett) Herzer, Jessica and Sam of Edmonds, and Russell J (Rusty) (Ivanna) Walrod, Ron (Jessica), Jennifer (Josh) and four great grandchildren of Tacoma.

Siblings, Marge (Kraft) and Richard Jochim, Washington, Shirley (Kraft) and Herb Schreiner, North Dakota, Matt Kraft, Minneapolis, Ed Kraft (Renee) North Dakota, George Kraft (Linda) Arizona, Gary Kraft (Joyce) Minnesota, Sandy (Kraft) Roger Thomsen North Dakota and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bob was preceded in death by his second wife Renee,  parents and sibling Mary (Kraft) Seidel, brothers-in-law Burt Volk, Norman Seidel and sister in law Mary Jo Kraft.