KRAFFT, C. James, MD

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Wednesday, May 04, 2011 C. James Krafft, MD, 88, of Flagstaff, passed away on May 1, 2011 at the Ponderosa Pines Care Center under the care of Hospice Compasses. C.J. Krafft was born on March 15, 1923 in Eliasville, Texas. His family later moved to Illinois where he grew up on a small country place near Yorkville, Ill. He graduated from the Marmion Military Academy (high school), then attended the University of Texas in Austin, receiving his Bachelor's of Science degree in 1943. He then went to medical school at the University of Illinois. Dr. Krafft practiced for 55 years as a pediatrician, then in college health. A list of his medical achievements are as follows: Dr. Krafft enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and later served as a Navy Lieutenant during the Korean War. He went into private practice as a pediatrician in Dallas. He was Director of Student Health at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. Dr. Kraft became a Flagstaff resident in 1985, and from 1985 to 1993 he served as a physician at the Fronske Health Center at Northern Arizona University. He was the medical director at the Methadone Clinic in Flagstaff until his retirement. He was a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Society, where he was the first president of that organization in 1944. Dr. Krafft's faith in Jesus was of paramount importance throughout his life. He was born again at the age of 17 and was baptized in the River Jordan in Israel at the age of 53. Dr. Krafft was a member of the Canyon Chapel in Flagstaff and he was an honorary elder of that church. Dr. Krafft is survived by his lovely wife, Joy; daughters, Gretchen and Kaisa; son Marcus; and grandchildren Sasha, Justin, Hana and Brooke. A private burial ceremony will be at Citizens Cemetery Veterans Section. The public is invited to a memorial service honoring Dr. Krafft on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Canyon Chapel, 1919 N. Fourth St. Condolences can be sent directly to the family or through www.flagstaffmortuary.com. Lozano's Flagstaff Mortuary is handling arrangements.