Allan John Kraft

Allan John Kraft, 60 of Grand Forks formerly of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at his home.

There will be a gathering of family and friends on Monday, January 8, 2024, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Reverend Paul Schuster celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.

Allan John Kraft was born on March 2, 1963, in Devils Lake to Emil and Catherine (Bingham) Kraft Sr., the 3^rd of 6 children. Allan attended Prairie View Elementary and Devils Lake High School, graduating with the class of 1981. Upon graduating, Allan enlisted in the United States Army.

Allan proudly made the Army his career. He was stationed in Arizona, twice in Germany, twice in Korea and 3 times at Fort Carson, Colorado. Most of his Army service was with the Military Police.

When Allan would come home on leave, he made sure to visit with each of his siblings and families. He enjoyed telling of his experiences in the Army. He also enjoyed fishing and would go for runs to see what had changed in his childhood neighborhood.

In 1997, Allan retired from the Army with the rank of Sergeant First Class, E-7. Allan continued to live and work in the Colorado Springs area for 5 years. Allan moved back to Devils Lake for a year and then moved to West Fargo where he worked at Sun Valley Foods. After a couple of harsh winters, Allan decided that over-the-road (OTR) driving would be his next career choice and found himself moving back to Colorado Springs for a few more years.

After the passing of his father, Allan missed being around family and returned to North Dakota to make Grand Forks home. Allan worked for Simplot a short time. He then went to work for S&S Trucking. After a couple of years OTR and some minor health issues Allan went to work for Freightliner Parts to do local hauling until he suffered a brain bleed that led to him having a stroke which ended his driving career.

Allan was loved and will be missed by his siblings, nieces, nephews, and their families.

Allan’s loving family who survive include his 4 siblings, 11 nieces and nephews, 19 great nieces and great nephews: brother Emil “Buddy” (Wynell) Kraft Jr. of Maddock ND and their children (Allan’s nieces and nephews) Jennifer (Troy) Seemann and children (Allan’s great nieces and great nephews) Alyssa and Courtney, Richard W. (Melinda) Kraft and children Brayden and Castiel, Daniel (Laurie) Kraft and children Aubrie, Burkley, Calder and Daxxon; sister  Debra (Evan) Zeltinger of Kenmare, ND and children Carl (Laurie) Zeltinger and child Gideon, John (Jessica) Zeltinger and children Madelyn, Noah, Dean and Jude, Katie (Jeremy) Sauer and children Isaac and Monica; sister Mary Eschbach, Devils Lake and children  Natalie Eschbach, Christopher (Dara) Eschbach and children Alexis and Aria, Matthew Eschbach; brother Richard (Bridget) Kraft of Devils Lake and children Nicholas Kraft, Austin “AJ” Kraft (McKenzie Delorme) and children Ava and Kyson; aunts and uncles Joe and CeCe Kraft, Louie and Phyliss Kraft, Kathy Kraft and Fred Bingham and many cousins.

Allan was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Catherine, sister Catherine Dawn and many precious aunts and uncles.