Elwin Dean Kraft, 70, of Hopkins, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Holland Hospital.
Born April 27, 1951 in Allegan, he was the son of the late Clifford LaVerne Kraft and Daun Ilene (Curtis) Kraft and was the husband of Freida (Tolhurst) Kraft.
Elwin was retired from Perrigo following fourteen years of employment. Family and friends thought of him as a jack of all trades and he was very handy when it came to mechanics, electrical and plumbing work. Elwin loved his grandfather’s 1940 Farmall H Tractor. He rebuilt it from the ground up, restoring it to brand new condition.
Elwin showed off his handiwork at the Hopkins parade where he pulled his daughter and granddaughter in a wagon and his son brought up the rear on his own tractor. The greatest time he had while on the tractor, though, was riding it across the Mackinac Bridge on Sept. 11, 2021. Elwin was one of 1,400 who crossed that day.
In addition to his wife of forty-nine years, Freida, Elwin is survived by his children, Kathy Kraft and James Kraft; granddaughter, Dezaray Kraft; brothers, Vern (Judy) Kraft and Ron (Linda) Kraft; and several nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Rozella Smith.
The family will receive friends at Gorden Funeral Residence, Hopkins Chapel, Monday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. A funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. with interment to follow in Maplewood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dezaray’s college fund in care of Kathy Kraft.
