obit templateheritagefunera2018-11-29T12:10:12+00:00
Jeffrey John
Jeffrey John
Kraft
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Memorial Visitation: Monday, October 20, 2025 from 12 pm – 1:30 pm at HARVEST COMMUNITY CHURCH (6612 S Howell Ave. Oak Creek, Wisconsin)
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Memorial Service: Monday, October 20, 2025 at 1:30 pm at HARVEST COMMUNITY CHURCH (6612 S Howell Ave. Oak Creek, Wisconsin)
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Click here to livestream the memorial service.
Jeffrey John Kraft
Jeffrey John Kraft, age 85, entered Heaven fully healed on Sunday, October 12, 2025, after spending four days surrounded by his loving family at Aurora Zilber Family Hospice.
He was born on July 3, 1940, to the late Emil and Delphine (nee Skulan) Kraft. Jeffrey met the love of his life, Jeanette (nee Esch) Kraft, on a blind date. On May 6, 1967, they were married and remained husband and wife—and best friends—for over 58 years.
Jeffrey was the first in his family to attend college, receiving a full scholarship to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked for Johnson Controls for his entire 34-year career, specializing in HVAC and building automation design and sales.
Jeffrey accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and his relationship with the Lord was the central focus of his life. A servant at heart, he was a dedicated member of Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Muskego until his retirement move to Northern Wisconsin in 2001. There, he and Jeanette joined St. Germain Evangelical Free Church (now Northlife Church), where they faithfully served for over 21 years. Jeffrey held various leadership roles, including elder and treasurer, and helped start the small group ministry for the church.
Jeff and Jeanette shared a deep passion for missions work—supporting it financially and participating in several mission trips to Alaska, Mexico, and destinations throughout the Caribbean. Jeff also served on the board of Boxes of Love, a nonprofit ministry providing care packages and medical equipment/supplies to Ukraine, China, and Latin America. In addition, he volunteered with the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), where he selflessly assisted others with transportation and tax preparation services.
During his 85 years, Jeffrey was active in sports including archery, basketball, bowling, fencing, golf, softball, and cross-country skiing. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, woodworking, playing cards, traveling, and most of all—spending time with his family and friends.
In 2022, Jeffrey and Jeanette returned to Muskego to be closer to family and became members of Harvest Community Church in Oak Creek. In late 2022, Jeffrey was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and in April 2025, with bone cancer in his jaw. Despite these health challenges, Jeffrey never lost his kind and loving spirit, his sense of humor, his deep faith, or his desire to worship God fully.
Jeffrey is survived by his beloved wife Jeanette, his children Jay (Mary) Kraft and Julie (Timothy) Cole, and his grandchildren Santria Kraft and Michael Kraft. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Judith (nee Esch) Erdman and Joyce (nee Esch) Prichett, and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, as well as other loving relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Delphine Kraft, and his sister, Amy Fischer.
A service celebrating Jeffrey’s life will take place on Monday, October 20 at HARVEST COMMUNITY CHURCH (6612 S Howell Ave. Oak Creek, Wisconsin). Visitation will begin at 12:00 PM, with the service starting at 1:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jeffrey’s honor to HARVEST COMMUNITY CHURCH or the ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the compassionate team at Aurora Zilber Family Hospice for their care of Jeffrey and support of the entire family during his final days with us.
HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME
16880 W National Ave. New Berlin, WI
Note: This obituary is the property of Heritage Funeral Homes and is published here with permission from the family. If you are viewing it on any website other than www.heritagefuneral.com, please be aware it has been copied without consent and may not reflect the most accurate or complete information.
Uncle Jeff you will be forever missed in the years to come but knowing you are home with Jesus and pain free gives me such comfort.
I will cherish my precious memories growing up in this beautiful family and the time we all got to spend up north on donut runs, riding mopeds, lake activities, walks together and especially all the love and laughter that filled the rooms.
I will see you again one day in heaven but for now you enjoy your time on the streets of gold, in your perfect body, seeing grandpa and grandma and your parents and best of all walking and talking with JESUS.
You will be missed but never forgotten and I love you uncle Jeff. I will be expecting you at the gates of heaven when it’s my time to join you. 🤗
Praying for all of you!
Dear Jay,
My wife and I are deeply sorry for the passing of your beloved father. We know that he was a man who loved God all his life and that he was an example not only to you but also to many others through his love and passion for God’s Work.We are certain that he is now regoicing in the heavenly home with his Savior. Receive a warm and brotherly embarace from México.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his Saints”
Psalm 116:15
During the wild and uncertain days of COVID, after our destination wedding that no one could attend, we were finally able to host a reception in Arizona. It was there that I had the honor of meeting Uncle Jeff for the first time.
A day or two before the reception, the family gathered at a shared BnB. After a few rounds of cards, Jeff and I found ourselves sitting at the dining table in the kitchen, just talking. In that brief conversation, I came to see what kind of man he was—an incredible listener, humble, calm, and deeply thoughtful.
As a Christian, there are moments when you meet someone and, without them saying a word about their faith, you just know—they carry something different. You can see it in their face. You can feel it in their presence. Jeff was one of those people. He was full of Life—the kind of life that only comes from the true source of life: King Jesus.
Now, he is at home in the loving arms of the One we all long to see face to face. Jeff, you will never be forgotten.
Romans 14:8:
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”