David Joseph Kraft

David Joseph Kraft was called home to eternal life on Sunday, December 24, 2023. He had received a successful bone marrow transplant from his youngest son earlier this fall at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, after the sudden onset months prior of severe aplastic anemia. He was weeks away from returning home to Arkansas when sudden complications set in that his still-developing immune system fought valiantly against but could not overcome.

Born in Kirksville, MO, on January 19, 1950, to Joseph and Lois (Trolinger) Kraft, David attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Catholic High School for Boys, and Hendrix College, where he started out as a history major, planning to attend law school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Then, he met Rosemary Moix and told his Hendrix advisor that he needed enough hours to graduate in 4 years, get a job, and get married. In the end, David graduated on time with a BA in accounting, went straight to work for the Russell Brown CPA Firm in Little Rock, and passed the CPA exam.

After several years in public accounting, he joined the Division of Legislative Audit for the State of Arkansas. He was their first-ever deputy legislative auditor for cities and counties, managing a network of over 100 field auditors throughout the state. Not the stereotypical “pencil pusher” accountant, David was a real “people person” who truly enjoyed getting to know those around him, whether at work, church, or the neighborhood.

On June 16, 1973, he married Rosemary and the following year, began family life with the birth of their first child, Karen. Soon after came Teresa, Kenny, and Matt, and the man who had grown up as an only child was now the father of four whom he loved with all his might. David’s family was his joy. Active as a parent in church and school activities, he also planned countless road trips every summer so that his family could experience this great country, often through national park adventures out West. Rosemary remembers all the places that were on his list the first time David suggested taking a big family trip to Colorado. “We can’t afford to do that,” she told him; his response was “We can’t afford not to.”

A devoted lifelong Catholic, David joined the Knights of Columbus as a squire at age 16, eventually becoming both a Third and Fourth Degree Knight. With Rosemary and the children, he enjoyed many years of friendship and activities at the parishes of Immaculate Conception and St. Anne Catholic Church in North Little Rock. He served on many different committees, sharing both his accounting expertise and his love for the faith. In his retirement, David became an avid reader who also loved the outdoors whether for yard work or long bike rides along the Arkansas River.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Lois, and a dear grandson, Tyler. He is survived by his wife of over fifty years, Rosemary, and their children Karen Kraft (Ben Breede) of Chicago, IL; Teresa Dannaway (Steve) of Benton, AR; Kenny Kraft (Katie) of Arlington, VA; and Matt Kraft (Rachel) of Seattle, WA; his treasured grandchildren Collier, Gavin, and Nora Kraft of Arlington, VA; his half-sister, Jo Ann Prall of Tulsa, OK; and his only cousin, Donna O’Hare of Norwalk, CT.

The family would like to offer its heartfelt gratitude to the following people: Dr. Sunny Singh and his North Little Rock staff for their initial care and guidance following David’s diagnosis; Dr. Amy DeZern, Dr. Javier Meade, and the team of doctors and nurses at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center for their rare combination of excellent medical prowess and deep human compassion during the four months that David and Rosemary were there; and the lifelong friends who took care of the house and property while they were away.  

On Friday, December 29, 2023, a visitation will be held at 5:30 p.m., with a Rosary following at 7:00 p.m. at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. On Saturday, December 30, 2023, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church with Fr. Alejandro Puello presiding and Fr. Daniel Velasco concelebrating. (The Mass will be livestreamed from the St. Anne Catholic Church’s Facebook homepage: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100064820495129. You do not need a Facebook account to access/watch the video.)  Interment will be at a later date at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Conway. Pallbearers will be Kenny, Matt, Collier, and Gavin Kraft, Steve Dannaway, and Ben Breede.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Tyler Dannaway Foundation or St. Anne Catholic Church.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR  72114.  501-758-1170.