John Kraft

TRAVERSE CITY — John Howard Kraft, 69, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully Monday, Oct. 4, 2010, with his loving family by his side. John was born Nov. 22, 1940, to Howard Allen and Lorna B. (Andrews) Kraft in Pontiac. He married Sandy McFatridge on Oct. 23, 1964, in Detroit. John went to school in Redford Township, where he excelled in athletics. He then went on to Central Michigan University and earned a degree in Teaching with a minor in Biology. After college he returned to his home town to teach Biology at Redford Township High School. John changed careers and moved the family to California, where he went into the sales division for Market Forge as a regional sales manager. The family decided to be closer to their roots and moved to Traverse City. Silcraft Corporation was born in 1980 as a result of his prior experience in the medical equipment industry. He identified an important need in the long-term and assisted living industries. For the next 17 years he oversaw and managed Silcraft and sold to Invacare Corporation in 1997. After retiring from Silcraft he and Sandy traveled extensively. Realizing retirement was not for him he bought Bay Breeze Yacht Charters in 2000 with his son Jay. They then started Bay Breeze Yacht Sales in 2002 after taking on the Nordic Tug trawler product line. After selling Bay Breeze Yacht Charters in 2008 they focused on Bay Breeze Yacht Sales exclusively, where he remained an active partner until his death. John was a sportsman, loved sailing the Caribbean and delivering Nordic Tugs throughout the Great Lakes. Family and friends were a huge part of John's life, and he will be greatly missed by all. His latest and greatest joy was his only grandchild, three-year-old Keara. She lovingly referred to John as Papa. Surviving John are his wife, Sandy; mother, Lorna; children, John Joseph "Jay" Kraft, Korenne Allyn Kraft and Adam Ardon (Marianne) Kraft; and granddaughter, Keara.John was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ora and Edna Andrews, and Carrie and Joseph Kraft; father, Howard; and brother, Joe.Visitation for John will take place on Thursday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Funeral services will take place on Friday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m., with a visitation held one hour prior, also at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Watershed Center, Grand Traverse Bay.

John Kraft

October 4, 2010