Sioux Falls, SD couple shared birthday and day of death
Rob Cibik
A Sioux Falls couple died together Saturday, side by side, of separate
illnesses.
By Melanie Brandert
The Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD)
February 14, 2008
Diana Kraft and her husband, Kent, married for about 43 years, were
both born on the same day: Sept. 2, 1941. Diana Kraft had Lou Gehrig's
disease. Kent had a brief illness.
Police spokesman Loren McManus said the Krafts' deaths were not
suspicious, and Kent Kraft had a heart condition.
It was a unique situation, reminiscent of the movie, "The Notebook,"
he said.
"It's kind of like that. They've been together forever, and she was
very, very sick, and she died," he said. "Whatever effect that had on
him, that was it."
Joel Vipond, director at Miller Funeral Home, said in his 30 years of
funeral service, he has never seen a couple that were born and died on
the same day.
"It is about as unusual as it gets," he said.
"It's tough enough to lose one (parent), but it's doubly devastating
to lose them both."
The couple, 66, met in Mitchell while Kent Kraft was a Dakota Wesleyan
University student and Diana Schroder was a nurse at St. Joseph's
Hospital, according to the obituary.
The Krafts have two children, Deborah of Sioux Falls and Calvin of
Rock Rapids, Iowa, and a grandson, Andrew, of Sioux Falls, among other
survivors.
A representative for the family said they would not comment.
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Diana Kraft of Sioux Falls, SD
Published: February 13, 2008
Sioux Falls - Diana Kraft, 66, of Sioux Falls, died Saturday, February
9, 2008 at her residence following a battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig´s
Disease).
Diana Schroder was born September 2, 1941 at Huron, SD. She grew up in
Huron where she received her education, graduating from Huron High
School in 1959. Following high school, she attended Pierre School of
Practical Nursing in Pierre, SD. Upon graduating from nurses training,
she became employed with St. Joseph´s Hospital in Mitchell, SD. It was
while living in Mitchell, that she met Kent Kraft. The two were
married on October 17, 1964 in Sioux Falls. Following their marriage,
the couple continued to live in Mitchell until moving to Sioux Falls
in 1971.
She worked at Sioux Valley hospital in Sioux Falls until the mid 1980
´s. Diana had most recently worked at Citibank where she retired from
in February of 2007.
Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Deborah (Renee)
Kraft, of Sioux Falls, SD, and Calvin Kraft, of Rock Rapids, IA; one
grandson, Andrew Kraft, of Sioux Falls, SD; and her brother, Dennis
(Joyce) Schroder of Brecksville, OH. She is also survived by several
great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. Diana
was preceded in death by her parents, and had died the same day as her
husband, Kent.
Memorial services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Miller Funeral
Home, Main Avenue location. Visitation with the family present will be
from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Kent Kraft of Sioux Falls, SD
Published: February 13, 2008
Sioux Falls - Kent Kraft, 66, of Sioux Falls, died Saturday, February
9, 2008 at his residence following a brief illness. Kent was born
September 2, 1941 at Sioux Falls, SD. He grew up in Sioux Falls where
he received his education, graduating from Washington High School in
1959. Following high school, he entered military service and served in
the US Army in the 1960´s. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he
returned to Sioux Falls.
Kent attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, where he met
Diana Schroder. The two were married on October 17, 1964 in Sioux
Falls. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Mitchell before
moving to Sioux Falls in 1971.
He was employed with Campbell Supply for a number of years. He was
most recently employed with Covenant at the Sioux Falls Regional
Airport providing airport security. He retired from there in February
of 2007.
Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Deborah (Renee)
Kraft, of Sioux Falls, and Calvin Kraft of Rock Rapids, IA; a
grandson, Andrew Kraft, of Sioux Falls, SD; his brothers and sisters,
Vincent Kraft of Valley Springs, SD, Bruce (Ada) Kraft of Chino Hills,
CA, Erick (Patricia) Kraft, of Hartford, WI, Lana Koester of Boyton
Beach, FL, Curtis Kraft, of Sioux Falls, SD, Clair (Alva) Kraft, of
Redondo Beach, CA, and Karen Kraft, of Sioux Falls, SD. He is also
survived by numerous great-nieces and nephews and great- great-nieces
and nephews. Kent was preceded in death by his parents, and had died
the same day as his wife, Diana.
Memorial services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Miller Funeral
Home, Main Avenue location. Visitation with the family present will be
from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
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