Obituary of Jay Michael Kreft

Jay Michael Kreft, 85, loving husband, father, brother and grandfather of Duluth passed away Saturday, March 13.

 

Jay was born in Chicago, Illinois to Willard and Pearl Kreft.

 

Jay graduated from Grand Rapids High School. He attended Itasca Junior College and graduated from the University of Minnesota- Duluth, BA Business and Accounting. He married his loving wife Catheline (Cathy) in 1963, they were together for 58 years. Together they lived in Berlin, WI; Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Wausau, WI; Luverne, MN; Montevideo, MN and eventually settled down in Duluth, MN. Jay worked various business jobs, working at JcPenny from 1957 to 1983. Working as the store manager for 10 years. Eventually he retired as a small business manager instructor at Lake Superior College.

 

Jay loved watching his children participate in football, dance, band and choir. He was the family seamstress for the girls dance costumes, often having to make repairs. Jay was a man of many talents ranging from being an expert woodworker to decorating the yearly Easter Bunny Cake. Jay said, church, family, friends, food and music were the things that made life most worth living.

 

Jay was brilliant, hardworking man, who cared deeply for his family and friends. He will be missed by all that had the opportunity to meet him.

 

 After retirement, Jay and Cathy enjoyed going on cruises and bus trips with their friends; participated in Bridge Club and Birthday Club. Jay served on the church council and was an usher for Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. He was a Disney grandpa through and through for his 11 grandchildren. In 2013, they went on a final trip to Disney World with his daughter Heather and her family. Jay enjoyed watching all his grandchildren in their various activities. 

 

Jay was well taken care of by the staff at Bayshore, where he lived for the past four and a half years after his health began to decline. Cathy and the family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff for taking such good care of him there. The family would also like to extend their thanks to his care team at St. Croix Hospice.

 

Jay was preceded in death by his parents Willard and Pearl; by his in-laws Oscar and Evelyn Petruschke and by his brother-in-law Robert Rimmer.

 

He is survived by his wife Cathy (Petruschke); son Tim (Heidi), daughters Heather (Will Kerola) and Jennifer (Jim Flaschberger); grandchildren Eric, Kyra, Matthew, Anna, Paige, Sara, Zachary, Reagan, Noelle, Adelynn and Luke; sisters Roberta (Ray Nibbe) and Judy Rimmer and many nieces nephews and friends. 

 

Family is having a private funeral due to Covid-19 restrictions. The family requests that all donations go to Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank; 4503 Airpark Boulevard Duluth, MN, 55811, in honor of Jay’s love for food.