Donald Kraft

Donald Bernard Kraft, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Nov. 19, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, to Bernhardt "Barney" and Verena Schatte Kraft. He and Rubye Farrow were married Sept. 28, 1944, in Cape Girardeau County.

Kraft graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and held degrees from Roosevelt University of Chicago and Chicago Blackstone School of Law.

He served eight years in the military. During World War II he was assigned to the Army Air Ways Communication System. During the Korean conflict he served as an Army finance officer at the rank of captain.

His civilian career consisted of 12 years as an audit manager with the U.S. General Accounting Office both in Chicago and Washington, D.C. For a number of years he was director of internal audits for the Defense Supply Agency.

He then spent 10 years as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State. He was an inspector for foreign assistance, which required extensive overseas travel in the Far East, Africa and the Middle East.

He and his wife made numerous donations of antiques and art to Southeast Missouri State University.

He had been affiliated with the U.S. Government Accountants Association, Certified Federal Government Accountants, Missouri American Legion and Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was on several boards of local museums and was a member of the President's Council and Heritage Club at Southeast.

Survivors include his wife, Rubye Kraft of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Fred R. Kraft of Cape Girardeau; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. to service time Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with Tony Ward officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum. Military rites will be conducted by Missouri Honors Team.

In lieu of flowers, Kraft requested memorial contributions be given to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.