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Obituaries

Well-Known Sunset Hills Resident Marvin K. "Moe" Kraft Dies

Kraft worked extensively with the Boy Scouts.

The Boy Scouts and Sunset Hills community are mourning the loss of Marvin K. “Moe” Kraft, who died Wednesday, Aug. 10. Kraft, the owner of Kraft Associates in Affton, and a 51-year member of the Carpenters Union, was an Eagle Scout and helped guide more than 40 boys to the position of Eagle Scout rank. He has received several prestigious awards from the Boy Scouts.

He was most recently scout Master of Troop 581 at Crestwood School but also served as scout master and assistant scout master at Truman School, and his sons achieved the Eagle rank.

“Everyone was his friend,” said John Panhorst, whose son, Jeff, is an Eagle Scout from Kraft’s troop. “He always seemed to be in a jovial mood, and I think the boys in his scout troop would have followed him anywhere.”

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In scouting, Kraft earned the honor of Vigil of the Order of the Arrow, Eagle Scout and was a Gravois Trails Award of Merit winner. He was also on the executive committee for the Gravois Trails Council and the adult training staff for years. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award a scout can receive as a volunteer.

One of Kraft’s proudest days was when he held a special Boy Scout reunion as the 100th Eagle Scout was awarded through his Troop 581. He had been scout leader or assistant for almost half of the 100 and many of them came back for the ceremony, where he presented his wife Sharon with the largest bouquet of flowers money could buy, for standing by him during it all.

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“He lived the scout motto 'be prepared' and the scout law 'A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent' every day of his life,” said Dan Wenk, whose two sons, Justin and Ryan, became Eagle Scouts under Kraft. Wenk then served as scout leader after Kraft retired from that rank.

“The young men he mentored through the scouting program looked up to him as a father,” Wenk said.

Kraft was a big Cardinals fan and a friend of former manager and Sunset Hills resident Whitey Herzog. Kraft traveled to Cooperstown, NY last year with a group of family and friends to watch Herzog get inducted in the hall of fame.

Kraft owned the 15 acres that is now Sappington Estates in Sunset Hills and sold the lots to the owners.

“He was a real throwback, just a real good guy,” said Dennis Gier, who with his wife, Esther, bought a lot adjacent to Kraft’s.

The concrete for the Gier’s tennis court was put in by Kraft and so was the Herzogs’ retaining wall. Gier said that Kraft would joke about all the tractors, machines and dump trucks as being his “toys.”

Kraft coached youth league football, baseball, hockey and softball for a combined 28 seasons, was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Catherine Laboure and received the Lindbergh Leaders Award from the Lindbergh School District.

“Moe Kraft had a heart of gold,” Mary Lou Herzog said. “He was just a really good guy.”

Kraft leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Sharon Kraft (nee Gansner); children Lisa K. Mastorakos, Michael (Gina) Kraft, Kristen K. Russo; Matthew (Amy) Kraft and Mark Kraft; grandchildren Parker, Hannah and Paige Mastorakos, Peter Russo, Madison and Tyler Kraft, Lucy and Henry Kraft; brother, nephews, cousins and many friends.

The funeral is at Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd., 10 a.m. Monday to St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church for 10:30 a.m. Mass. Interment Sunset Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boy Scouts of America Memorial Fund, 4568 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, St. Catherine Laboure Knights of Columbus or Lymphoma Society appreciated. Visitation Sunday 4 p.m. until Knights of Columbus Service at 8:30 p.m.

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