Leone "Lonnie" Kraft's Obituary
Leone “Lonnie” Kraft, age 84, of Camanche, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Genesis East in Davenport.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Clinton. Burial will follow at Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Corby Burkett, Brady McCray, Jim Gard, Steve Rolen, Tim McDermott, and Dale Bennett. Honorary pallbearers are Mason Esch, Henry Eskola, and Archer Stevens.
Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Clinton Chapel of Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Online condolences may be shared by visiting her obituary at www.snellzornig.com.
Leone Ann Kahler was born on October 4, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Karl and Laura (Probst) Kahler. A 1958 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, Lonnie was a Class Officer, National Honor Society member, Latin Club participant, and active in the Glee Club and State Music Festival. She also won the Clinton County Spelling Bee.
She earned her nursing degree from St. Ambrose University and later completed her master’s degree at the University of Iowa, becoming a Nurse Practitioner through the University of Illinois-Chicago. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing.
On June 6, 1964, she married Robert Kraft in Clinton. He preceded her in death on November 16, 2009.
Lonnie began her nursing career with Dr. O’Donnell at Medical Associates and later taught nursing at Clinton Community College. She later served as Director of Nursing at The Alverno before returning to school at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s Quad Cities Satellite Office to become a Nurse Practitioner. Lonnie concluded her career working with Dr. Hansen and Dr. Woods in Mt. Carroll and Savanna before retiring.
A member of Prince of Peace Parish, Lonnie found joy in family gatherings, playing the piano, cards, reading, sewing, cooking, and proudly hosting the family’s annual Memorial Day reunion for many years.
She is survived by her children:
Steve (Connie) Kraft of Clinton
Sue (Steve) Rolen of Franklin, Tennessee
Tom (Joe Branham) Kraft of Franklin, Tennessee
Angela (Corby) Burkett of Sterling, Illinois
Grandchildren:
Olivia (Stephen) Esch, Allyson (Conor) Stevens,
Hannah (Levi) Eskola, Natalie (Jaden Hunter) Rolen,
Brady McCray, Madison McCray, and Rachel Branham-Kraft
Great-grandchildren:
Mason Esch, Archer Stevens, Henry Eskola, and Remi Eskola
She is also survived by:
Her sister, Donna (James) Gard of Marion, Iowa
Dear friends, Kathy and Tim McDermott
She was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Laura Kahler; her husband, Robert Kraft; and her grandson, Logan McCray.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association in Lonnie’s memory.
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