Nancy Ann Kraft

Nancy Ann Kraft, 92, of Pigeon, was called home peacefully on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at home.

Nancy was born June 12, 1931 in Grayling to the late George and Marian (Breinager) Carpenter.  She was made a child of God through Holy Baptism on April 21, 1935. Nancy  married Lowell E. Kraft on May 3, 1952 in Bronson, Michigan.  They celebrated 70 years of marriage shortly before Lowell’s passing in 2022.  Nancy’s sister, Mary Kay Prudden passed away in 2023.

Nancy is survived by her three children, nine grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren; her son David (Sherri) of Pigeon, daughter Carol (Joel) Nelson of Muskego, Wisconsin and son Daniel (Elizabeth) of Williamston, Michigan; grandchildren Alissa Kraft (Dan) of Austin, Texas, Stephanie (Allan) McLean of Shelby Township, Michigan, Matthew (Steph) Kraft of Western Springs, Illinois, Natalie (Micah) Walz of New Berlin, Wisconsin, Eric (Aly) Nelson, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lindsay (Jamie) Langan of Mount Prospect, Illinois, Stuart (Amber) Neils of Petoskey, Michigan, Ella (Josh) Vaillancourt of Holt, Michigan and Grace Kraft of Grand Rapids, Michigan; great-grandchildren Shawn, Ethan, Brody, Cooper, Anna, Caroline, Layla, Mason, Zoey, Sadie, Jack, Lily, Theo and Sutton; Nancy is also survived by her brother, Robert Carpenter of Grand Rapids, sister-in-law Naomi (Gilbert) Wichert and many nieces and nephews.

Nancy graduated from Pigeon High School in 1949.  She attended Michigan State University and later Central Michigan University finishing the last two years of her teaching degree while her children were young. She taught second and third grades at the Pigeon Elementary School in the 1960’s. Nancy always enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught them kindness, compassion, and love.

Nancy was a gifted homemaker and enjoyed entertaining family and friends.  Always an optimist, she was a talented seamstress with a fun sense of humor who enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and playing Bridge. She enjoyed traveling with Lowell and spending winters at their home in Boynton Beach, Florida. While in Florida they attended Divine Savior Lutheran Church in West Palm Beach. She has been a member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church-Berne since 1952.

A memorial service will be at 11:00am Saturday, August 3rd at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church-Berne.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Champagne Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran School, 7369 Berne Road, Pigeon, MI 48755 or the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Foundation.