Robert "Bob" Lee Kraft

Robert “Bob” Kraft was born to John and Rachel Kraft on February 22, 1927, and  Bob grew up on the family farm one mile west of Burlington, Oklahoma. As a schoolboy, Bob would get up at 5:00 a.m. each morning to milk the cows and feed the hogs and chickens before going to school on the bus. Growing up, Bob loved to play baseball, basketball, softball, and tennis. After high school Bob joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country for two years. When Bob returned home as a young adult, he continued to play baseball and softball in local adult leagues. While playing an away game, Bob met the love of his life, Frances. Bob would tell people that when he first met Frances, he knew that she was the one. Bob and Frances were married November 14, 1948.

Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman. Bob and Frances could often be found fishing together at local ponds and rivers. Later in life, Bob and Frances took up golf and enjoyed playing together. Bob was also part of a bowling league, where he was on an entire team of left-handed bowlers.

Family and community were very important to Bob. He served his community as Cub Master for the local Boy Scouts and was awarded the Order of the Arrow and the Silver Beaver Award. He was a charter member of the Burlington Lion’s Club and served as secretary for 46 years. Bob was also a charter member of the Driftwood Church and held many roles in the church.  He will be remembered primarily as a Church Elder. Even with all these responsibilities, Bob and Frances always made sure to attend all of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren’s activities and milestones of life.

Bob was a custom harvester and owned one combine for much of his life. He was also a carpenter and worked on Doc Lambert’s crew. Bob was always busy doing small projects for others. He enjoyed being creative with the scroll saw and many of his creations can be found in local friends and family’s homes. He was still working with wood and following his passion until a few weeks before his passing. Bob was a farmer, rancher, and had a hog operation. Bob worked into his 80’s before he turned the cattle and farming operations over to his grandsons who were living in the community.

Despite having numerous accidents with bodily injury and living with cancer for over a decade late in life, Bob lived to the age of 97.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, John and Rachel Kraft; brother, Raymond Kraft, and son, Kevin Kraft.

Bob is survived by his wife, Frances Kraft; siblings, Doris Marsh and Joan Moore; children, Vickie (Terry) Morgan, Marsha (Dale) Lunsford, Kurt (Amy) Kraft; grandchildren, Rachel DeMoss, Hannah Lunsford, Shane Morgan, Brock Morgan, Kelly Owen, Kaleb Kraft, Katie Love, Colton Kraft, Kenzie Collins, Justin Clark, Brittany Rupp, Erin Kraft, Elise Kraft; great grandchildren, Libby Owen, Tucker Owen, Grady Owen, Jacobi Cox, Caleb Cox, Wyatt Morgan, Emmett Morgan, Merritt Morgan, Maddox Morgan, Kaselyn Collins, Kallum Collins, Kasey Rupp, Koby Rupp, Taten Rupp, Leighton Rupp, Kaylee Love, Kole Love, Brooklyn Kraft, Olivia DeMoss, Linley Lunsford, Raleigh Clark, Lydia Clark, and Lydie Clark.

Celebration of Life service for Bob will be Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at Driftwood Christian Church. Viewing will be Friday at Lanman Funeral Home, Inc., in Cherokee from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the family present from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to Apostolic Cemetery or Burlington Education Fund through the funeral home. Please make checks out to the charity of preference. www.lanmanfuneralhome.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.