Warren D. Kraft, age 83, of Turtle Lake, passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Turtle Lake Community Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, June 30, 2008, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake, with Rev. Betty J. Stedman officiating. Burial will follow in the Turtle Lake Cemetery. Visitation hours will be on Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Goetz Funeral Home, Turtle Lake.

Warren was born on December 6, 1924 at Turtle Lake, a son of John L. and Jessie (Satterlee) Kraft. He was raised and educated there, graduating from Turtle Lake High School in 1943. Warren married Vivian Voth on January 4, 1948 at Garrison. He was a grain and dairy farmer until 1974, when he retired due to a brain aneurysm which had occurred in 1972. They moved into Turtle Lake in 1974, where they have since lived. Warren worked at the Equity Lumber Yard for 6 years and at Cenex in Turtle Lake for 7 years. During his early farming years, he served as a rural mail carrier for 16 years. He drove bus for the Turtle Lake School District for 12 years. Warren was a survivor of throat cancer in 1971 and prostate cancer in 2003. He enjoyed fishing, camping and playing cards. He was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church Council, had served as a Lake Williams Township Supervisor, had served on the Turtle Lake Rural Fire District and was on the Board of the McLean County Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Vivian; his children, Jeanette & Vyron Lelm of Turtle Lake, Gerald & Peggy Kraft of Andover, NH, Jim & Deb Kraft of Turtle Lake, and Janice & Donnie Schmidt of Benedict; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, Lonnie (Lisa) Lelm and children, Justine and Landen, Dean (Teresa) Lelm and children, Lexi and Alex, Alan (Jackie) Lelm and children, Jacob and Grace, Shawna Lelm, Kevin Kraft and children, Braydon and Karter, Keith (Alice) Kraft and children, Tyler and Katie, Chad Kraft, Reid (Jacque) Kraft, Jennifer (Chad) Smart and children, Anna and Mae, Robin Schmidt, Neil Schmidt, Dallas Schmidt and son, Kamden; 2 sisters, Betty (Lynn) Voth of Minot, and Helen (Lawrence) Wittrup of Turtle Lake. Warren was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ralph; his sisters, Myrna and Lola, an infant brother, an infant daughter, Sharon and an infant granddaughter, Misty Kraft.