John Andrew Kraft, 75, wrote the last page of his incredible autobiography on Sunday, August 1, 2021.  He was born to James Walsh Kraft and Blanche Kraft Rodger on July 3, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

 

John is survived by his wife, the Rev. Dawn Curlee Carlson, his son, Alex Carlson, nieces, nephews, and an abundance of friends, including his Starbucks early morning play group.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim.

 

John attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and Beaver Falls High School.  He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University, with a double major in political science and theater.  He felt that prepared him to stage a coup and was always proud to see Baldwin-Wallace grads in almost every Playbill.  John acted in theaters in Cleveland, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Terre Haute.  His sense of humor and gift for stand-up comedy had him on many late night stages in the Bay Area and LA.

 

John’s career encompassed many roles over the years. They all came into play as he supported the woman he loved in her career as minister. He used his humor,  listening skills, gift for story-telling, and his love of life to help bring the love of God to others.  John was a proud and humorous curmudgeon, a gifted writer of both fiction and non-fiction, an avid blogger, a respected actor, and a devoted San Francisco Giants fan.  He was a loving and true father to Alex and a generous, unplanned, and supportive clergy spouse.  John was a loving husband who made his wife laugh every day and taught her everything she knows about baseball.

 

A private memorial celebration of life will be held at a later date.  In lieu of memorials, hug the people you love and say, “I love you,” every single day.

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