LODI, CA (May 1, 2007) \u2013 A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Vinewood Community Church, 1900 W. Vine Street, for retired Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) Pastor Vernon Robert Kraft, 78, who died last Saturday. Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lodi Funeral Home.
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\nVisitation will be observed on Wednesday, May 2, from noon until 8 p.m. at Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S. Fairmont Avenue.<\/p>\n
Kraft was born August 12, 1928, in Streeter, North Dakota, the son of Ed and Ida Kraft. Vernon and his family moved to Lodi in 1946. He married his wife, Beverly, in 1961.<\/p>\n
Kraft received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951 from the University of Pacific in Stockton, California; a master\u2019s degree in Christian education from Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and in 1980 a Doctorate of Theology and Divinity.<\/p>\n
He was ordained in 1954 in the Evangelical United Brethren denomination and transferred his ordination to the ECC in 1970. Kraft pastured 10 churches over a period of 55 years, including three Covenant churches in California: Stockton, Antioch and Tracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cPastor Vern will be best remembered for his love for the Lord, love for Bible preaching and compassion for people,\u201d notes his published obituary. \u201cHe had a gift for hand-writing thousands of birthday and encouragement letters. Pastor Vern always greeted everyone with a winsome smile. He loved having company and visiting friends and family. He had a real sense of humor and always loved to share stories with friends. Vernon will also be remembered for the hundreds of birdhouses he built and shared.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to his wife, Beverly, Kraft is survived by a daughter, Rebecca (Steve) Graves of Fresno; a son, Brian (Bernadette) Kraft of Sacramento, and six grandchildren.<\/p>\n
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Vinewood Community Church for the purchase of Bibles for Christian Outreach and Merge Missions.<\/p>\n