Anthony 'Tony' John Kraft was born December 11, 1917 in Hays, KS, to the late Wendelin and Veronica (Haffner) Kraft. He passed away Sunday, April 18, 2010 in the Smoky Hill Rehabilitation Center at Salina at the age of 92.


He attended elementary schools in Park and graduated from Park High School with the class of 1936.


On August 22, 1940, Tony married Rosalie Heier in rural Gove County. Together, they farmed and later, Tony owned and operated the Tru Value Hardware Store in Grainfield for many years.


He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Grainfield and was a 4th Degree Knight.


After retiring, Tony loved to go to Arizona in their travel trailer until his health no longer allowed him to travel. He loved spending time swimming with the grandchildren in his backyard pool and often had swimming lessons for them and the town kids. In his younger years, Tony enjoyed water skiing at Cedar Bluff Dam. He also played the harmonica, which he still played up to two weeks before his passing.


Survivors include his wife, Rosalie of Salina; four sons, Duane Kraft, and wife, Elaine, of Jefferson City, MO, Leroy Kraft and wife, Charlotte, of Wichita, Jerry Kraft and wife, Karen, of Salina, Gail Kraft and wife, Janice, of Antioch, CA; a daughter, Janice Manhart and husband, Larry, of Grainfield; twenty grandchildren; thirty-nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Marvin Kraft and wife, Jeanette, of Emporia.

Tony was preceded in death by two sons, Pat and Eugene Kraft; a brother, Alex Kraft; and a sister, Theresa Lang.

Visitation will be 5-7 PM Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at St. Agnes Educational Center with Vigil Service at 7:00 PM.

Services will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Grainfield, KS. Interment is in Grainfield Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Masses or Kansan's For Life, Inc. and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S Main, Quinter, KS 67752.