Stewart Wayne ‘Stu’ KraftStewart Wayne “Stu” Kraft, 84, of Syracuse, passed away at 4:07 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at his home.
He was born on Nov. 20, 1937, in Valparaiso, to Frank and Mary Crisman Kraft.
He grew up in Hobart, graduated in 1956 from Hobart High School and attended the University of Colorado. He moved to the Syracuse area in 1977 and was married on Sept. 15, 1978, in Las Vegas, Nev., to Susan K. “Sue” Miller, who survives. He retired in 1997 from Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) after 40 years and wintered in Bonita Springs, Fla., for the past 24 years.
He attended the Grace Lutheran Church in Syracuse and was a member of the Eagles Lodge #3760 in Syracuse, Moose Lodge in Bonita Springs, Fla., Masonic Lodge #357 in Hobart since 1965, Scottish Rite in South Bend and Mizpah Shrine Club in Fort Wayne. He loved his family, fishing, IU basketball, Chicago Cubs and horse racing.
He is survived by wife, Sue Kraft, of Syracuse; two daughters: Elizabeth Kraft, of New Paris; and Stacey (Scott) Mehlberg, of Leesburg; son, Stewart Kraft Jr., of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; six grandchildren: Taylor Ito, Sara Ryman, Calvin Connolly, Evan Connolly, Addison Mehlberg and Zachary Mehlberg; four great-grandchildren: Savannah Buss, Hiro Ito, Wyatt Ryman and Tate Ryman; sister, Mary (Phil) Govert, of Crown Point; and brother, Conrad Kraft, of Hobart.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16 in the funeral home with Pastor Mike Beezley of the Clunette United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Syracuse Cemetery.
Preferred memorial may be given to the Shriner’s Hospital or Grace Lutheran Church.
