Barney Kraft

Barney John Kraft, 77, of Bettendorf, died Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Trinity Medical Center in Bettendorf.

Funeral Services and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M., Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf with a Christian Wake Service beginning at 4:00 P.M. Burial will be held in Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes School Endowment Fund.

Barney was born July 31, 1934 in Beulah, North Dakota, the son of John & Stella (Weisser) Kraft. He was united in marriage to Amy Griffin in 1951 in Crosby, North Dakota. She preceded him in death in January of 1995.

Barney entered the United States Army National Guard in 1950 and was honorably discharged in 1951.

He retired in 1996 for the former AT&T Phone Company after thirty-five years of service. Barney was an avid photographer and enjoyed collecting gemstones.

Those left to honor his memory include his daughters, Valerie Walters of Bettendorf, Mara Susan (Harold) Williams of Wichita, Kansas and Beth Ann Hamby of Bettendorf; his sons, John (Shawn) Kraft of Annawan, Illinois, David (Patti) Kraft of Rock Island and Bernard (Michelle) Kraft of Coralville, Iowa; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-one great-grandchildren; three sisters; and seven brothers.

In addition to his wife, Amy, Barney was preceded in death by his son, Michael Kraft in 1976; his parents; one grandson; an infant brother; and one sister.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Barney’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.