Craft, Donald W. - 1923-2011

BAKER, CRAFT, DEARDORFF, MCDANIEL, SWARTHOUT, WALKER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 9/8/2024 at 13:30:57

Donald W. Craft, 88, passed away December 1, 2011 at Mercy Hospice Johnston, in Johnston, IA.
He was born March 8, 1923 in Ottumwa to William Henry and Myrtle Opal Baker Craft.
Don served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. He married Doris M. McDaniel on January 6, 1946. He retired from Rexnord Knife Div. in Ottumwa in 1985. Don and Doris moved to the Des Moines area in 2002.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Clayton and Lyle Craft.
Surviving is his wife of 65 years; their four children, Sue (Ken) Walker of Aiken, S.C., Randy (Donita) Craft of Urbandale, Malea (Randy) Deardorff of Dallas Center and Bart (Elaine) Craft of Moberly, MO; six grandchildren, Amy (Derek) Swarthout, Matt (Stephanie) Walker, Stephanie Craft, Cynthia Craft, Melissa Craft and Melinda Craft; seven great-grandchildren, Megan, Kelsey and Ryan Swarthout, Jenna, Lauren, Ellie and Brooklyn Walker; a brother, Vern Craft of Fairfield.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa with Pastor Roger Hemmings officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military services conducted by O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion and Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with the family present one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Court Baptist Church in Ottumwa.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Saturday, December 3, 2011, page 4B