James "Jim" Kraft
James “Jim” Henry Kraft, 67, of Aberdeen, SD, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Avera. St. Luke’s surrounded by his family after battling Parkinson's with Lewy Body for many years. “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
James Henry Kraft was born October 13, 1955, in Aberdeen to Jacob and Donna (Hammer) Kraft. During junior high and high school, Jim worked for Piggly Wiggly and American News. Jim started working at Safeguard Power Tech on April 2, 1973, and worked the swing shift while finishing his senior year of high school. Jim graduated from Aberdeen Roncalli High School as part of the class of 1973.
Jim married Rose Kline on August 10, 1974, and to this union, two children were born: Tracie (1975) and Josh (1980).
Jim and Rose loved taking a trip a year to different places in the U.S. and Canada. Their favorite with their family was going to Disneyworld when both children were still in school. He liked seeing the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis Mustang Rally, trains anywhere in the world, and working with tools.
During layoffs, Jim worked at Coca-Cola, Gage Brothers, and driving school bus for Warner.
Jim ran and got elected to the Aberdeen City Council as a representative of the Northeast Area in 2007 and held this position until 2012. He was very proud to represent the people.
He was head of his Union, IAM&AW, Lodge 862. He also served as treasurer of the Central Labor Union.
Jim received the honor of being an Outstanding Democrat of Brown County in 2011 and was very involved in the Brown County Democrats as chairman of the party. He loved politics and went to 2 National Conventions as a delegate: in 2000 to Los Angeles and in 2004 to Boston.
Jim was a machinist at Safeguard, Hub City Inc, and Hub City Regal Beloit for 46 years retiring in June of 2019. Because of his dedication to sticking with a job, he was able to send his wife Rose to college to get her degree in education so she could teach for 39 years at Roncalli. Jim was supportive of all that his wife was involved in, especially behind the scenes of Camp Dream Makers, and Mathcounts.
He loved watching his kids and grandkids' activities including baseball, hockey, softball, band, dance, taekwondo, and track. He coached baseball for Josh’s team and also coached Hockey for Josh’s termite team even though he did it without skates on.
Jim is survived by his wife and best friend Rose (Kline) Kraft of 48 years; children: Tracie (Craig) Eschenbaum and Josh (Heidi) Kraft; grandchildren: Maleah, Victoria, and Zachary Eschenbaum and Maddux, Addilynn, and Banksten Kraft; siblings: Mary (Keith) Goetz, Jacob (Esther) Kraft, Lucinda Kraft, and Karla Scarborough; half- sister: Diane Lengkeek: nieces and nephews: Jamie Scarborough, Nicole, Matthew, Michael, and Crystal Goetz; and numerous cousins.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents: Jacob L. and Donna M. (Hammer) Kraft; brother-in-Law Tim Scarborough; and many aunts and uncles.