Wanda L. Kraft, age 79, of Ottawa, Kan., passed away Friday, June 19, 2009, at the Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, Kan.

She was born March 13, 1930 in Stilwell, Kan., to Albert W. and Ruth L. (Miller) Odor. As a young girl living with her parents she attended the Kansas City schools and then by the age of 7 after her father’s death she went to live with foster parents Don A. and Thelma A. (Wassell) Yockey who raised her and later adopted her. She continued her education in Kansas City for awhile and then they eventually moved to the northeast edge of Ottawa where they began farming. She helped on the farm by feeding the animals, milking cows and doing various chores while also going to school every day. She also had horses which she loved riding. She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1948.

During her marriage she had five children and was a homemaker for the majority of her life. She did work at various jobs like Woolworth’s, King Radio, and she also drove a dump truck part time for a hauling contractor for Buildex.   

Wanda was a member of the Union Chapter No. 15 Order of the Eastern Star for over 42 yrs and she was their secretary for 22 years. She was also a member of True Kindred, White Shrine, and the Hazel Rebekah Lodge for many, many years while also holding numerous offices in all of these clubs. She also attended the North Baptist Church at times.

Wanda enjoyed growing a garden in the summer and canning various vegetables and fruits from her garden, collecting all kinds of dishes for her kitchen, shopping at antique stores, taking bus trips to different places, cooking and baking lots of goodies for everyone, preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners every year for her family, and spending time with her family.  

On Jan. 7, 1949 she was united in marriage to Thomas A. Kraft in Ottawa, Kan. They celebrated their 50th golden wdding anniversary in January 1999 and were privileged to share up to 59 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on March 22, 2008.

She is survived by her two daughters and two sons and their spouses: Janice McAninch and her husband, Ron, of Goddard, Kan; Delores Pitts and her husband, Craig, of Edmond, Okla.; Tom Kraft Jr. of Springfield, Mo.; and Clayton Kraft and his wife, Loriee, of Ottawa; seven grandchildren, Angela Jones and her husband, Derek; Sarah Schmalzried and her husband, Greg; Doug Kraft and his wife, Hanna; Justin Kraft; Curtis Kraft and his wife, Kim; Kyle Kraft and Logan Kraft; two step-grandchildren, Ryan McAninch; Scott McAninch and his wife, Misty; five great-grandchildren, Amanda Schmalzried, Cody Schmalzried, Jacob Kraft, Andrew Kraft and Lauren Kraft; plus a great-grandson to be, Ethan Kraft; three stepgreat-grandchildren, Emma, Ava and Ethan McAninch; one sister, Joyce Fennell; one brother,Robert Smith; and half-brother, Robert Bibb.

She is preceded in death by her husband, birth parents; adopted parents; one son, Mikeal Kraft; one sister, Nancy Jones; two brothers, William O’Conner and Joseph Odor; one half-brother, Herbert Odor; and one half-sister, Maxine Hughes.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Dengel and Son Mortuary.

Friends may pay their respects to Mrs. Kraft after 10 a.m. Tuesday at Dengel and Son Mortuary, where family will meet with friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Burial will be at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa, Kansas.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Union Chapter No. 15, Order of the Eastern Star or American Heart Association, in care of Dengel and Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa KS 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.

 

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