Helmut E. Kraft

Age 84, of Centerville Ohio, passed away Monday August 18, 2014. Helmut was born on November 6, 1929, in Stuttgart, Germany, the only child of Ernst Rudolf and Elise Friedriche (Fähnle) Kraft. His father was a carpenter and taught him that trade, but he apprenticed as a butcher as a young man in Germany. He married the love of his life, Else Hildegard Merck, on April 22, 1950. In 1952, at age 23, Helmut immigrated to the United States, with his wife and their first child, seeking a better life. They came to Willard, Ohio, where he was employed at The Willard Woodworking Company as a master carpenter for over forty years. He and his wife learned to speak English as their second language and proudly became American citizens.

In 1997 Helmut and Else moved to Centerville, Ohio. He continued to dabble in woodworking and to fix things around the house and take care of his yard. He especially loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Helmut enjoyed reading and making puzzles. He was a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church.

Helmut was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Else; children Dieter (Sandra) Kraft Atlanta Georgia, Joan (Allan) Brenner Dayton Ohio, and Thomas (Suzanne) Kraft Seattle Washington; grandchildren Carissa (Tom) Milenkevich , Keith (Amanda) Kraft, Kelley Reidy, Kurt (Allison) Kraft, and Benjamin Brenner; and great-grandchildren Raven, Sienna, and Sage Milenkevich, Jordan, Kendall, and Connor Reidy, and Miriam and Richard Kraft.

Visitation will be Friday August 22, 2014 10:00 a.m. at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 6430 Far Hills Ave. Dayton, Ohio. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. with lunch following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Epiphany Lutheran Church or Hospice of Dayton. Online condolences may be sent to:www.tobiasfuneralhome.com