Loran Kratz, of Montevideo, died Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 91.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Salem Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Matt Philaya officiating. Interment will be in Immanuel Lutheran Church cemetery rural Montevideo. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 29, 2016 from 5-7 PM at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Loran Ralph Kratz was born July 16, 1924 to Ralph and Alma (Moehring) Kratz in Montevideo Minnesota. He was baptized, confirmed and attended school in Montevideo, where he graduated in 1942. At age 15, he got a job driving a bus route, picking others up and driving them home after he finished his classes . Loran met Margaret May Moe while driving school bus. Loran and Margaret dated a few years and were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Watson, on June 1, 1947. They moved to the family farm northeast of Montevideo, and lived and raised their 5 children there until 1988 when they moved to the Moehring Farm, his mother’s birthplace. In 2001, they honored daughter Mary’s wish and moved off the farm to a home in Montevideo. Loran spent the last few weeks of his life hospitalized and had recently joined Margaret at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo.
Loran was a farmer, a bus driver, and a highway construction worker. He resided on the family farm until his son, Robert moved to the homestead. Loran’s love for the farm never ended. He would find reasons to take the old 2010 out to remove snow, leaves and anything that the loader could pick up. He worked construction as a dump truck driver for Mooney’s/Minnesota Valley Improvement Company of Granite Falls, Minnesota living in his travel trailer and driving home to farm every weekend. He worked for Simon Olsen Bus Company/Denny Clark full and part time from age 15 to age 90. He was the first to the bus garage to grab coffee, knew every route in the School District and would always make himself available to take a bus trip.
When not working and also in retirement, Loran enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren’s sporting events. He and Margaret traveled to attend hockey, soccer, baseball, softball, football and basketball games. They especially enjoyed watching ball games from their motorhome or car, on summer nights. Loran enjoyed playing cards with neighbors and friends, loved family get-togethers and loved when everyone went home, so he could have peace and quiet. In that quiet time, he and Margaret would sit in their recliners looking out the picture window, doing crosswords, reading books and magazines, and watching Jeopardy. He and Margaret were regulars at Trailways Café, where Loran recently discovered a love for doughnuts made like his mother’s.
Loran was a conservative man, content with a simple life. He owned only two pair of glasses his entire life and would respond “That’s good enough!” whenever family or friends tried to upgrade an item or experience for him. Loran was a member of the Watson’s Lion Club since 1958, and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. He was treasurer of Rosewood Township for 21 years, treasurer of Immanuel Lutheran Church for 7 years and once president of the congregation.
Loran is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Margaret; sons: David (Diane) Kratz, Farwell, MN; Robert (Karen) Kratz, Montevideo, MN; and William (Pauline) Kratz, Brookings, SD ; daughter: Deb (Les) Dondoneau, Lake Park, MN and son-in-law: Daryl Goughnour, Stillwater, MN. grandchildren: Mike (Annette) Kratz, Steve (Bea) Kratz, Beth (special friend, Steve Christianson and daughter, Cam) Goughnour, Becky Goughnour, Ben (Rachel) Goughnour, Matt (Marnie) Dondoneau, Jon (Evie) Dondoneau, Traci Weckwerth, Lauren Kratz and Britta Kratz; great-grandchildren: Justin (fiancée Brittany King) Kratz, Brodee Gilliland, Katlynn Gilliland, Hayden Dondoneau, Hudson Dondoneau, Alex Smith, Axton Weckwerth, Ben Rueben, Chris Rueben and Taylor Kratz; great-great grandchild: Kristopher Kratz; and several nieces; nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Mary Goughnour, sister and brother-in-law Doris and Alvin Payne and in-laws, Olaf and Kathinka Moe, James Moe, Roger Moe, Aletta Ostlie, and Marion Feldhake.