James “Jim” Thomas Kraft, 91, fondly known as “Padre,” passed away September 15, 2026. Jim had a happy-go-lucky disposition and served many roles throughout his life — husband, father, grandfather, uncle, storyteller, firefighter, businessman, sports enthusiast, mentor and friend.

Jim was born December 21, 1934, in Spokane, Washington, the youngest of ten children. He grew up during the Great Depression and attended St. Francis of Assisi for grade school. After his father died in a crane accident when Jim was seven, he began working at a young age to help support his family. One job he especially loved was working as a golf caddy at Spokane Country Club where he once met Bing Crosby.

Jim graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1953 and then hitchhiked to California & attended a seminary with thoughts of becoming a Catholic priest. That calling didn’t work out, and he returned to Spokane and began working at Stager’s grocery store, among other jobs, on the South Hill, now Huckleberry’s.

It was there that he met Helen Brower. After learning that Helen attended silent Mass at the Cathedral, Jim asked her on a double date. He was more than two hours late picking her up, but somehow convinced her to go anyway. Jim and Helen were married September 27, 1957, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Spokane Valley. Helen would remain the love of Jim’s life for the next 67 years.

Jim was drafted into the United States Army in 1958. After returning to Spokane in 1960, he began his career as a firefighter with the City of Spokane. He spent much of his career as part of an inhalator crew, driving the EMS vehicle and assisting citizens and fellow firefighters. He was stationed first on the north side and later at the South Hill station on Grand. Many nieces, nephews and cousins remember Jim stopping by in the firetruck or visiting him at the station, where the famous “candy room” made him especially popular with the kids.

Jim and Helen built their life and raised their family in Spokane. Their daughter Beverly was born in 1960 followed by Irish twins Anna 1963 and James 1964, and Patrick in 1969. The family eventually moved to Painted Hills and their home on Mohawk drive in 1977.

Jim had seemingly endless energy. He spent countless hours cutting down trees and clearing their 3 acre property, filled the family swimming pool using borrowed fire department hose, and shoveled their long switchback driveway by hand for three decades.

Always up for a party, Jim loved spending weekends and holidays with his brothers, sisters and their families. He was especially close with his brother Larry. The two could turn almost anything into a competition — golf, riding scooters or penny gambling — as long as there was a winner and a loser.

Jim was also one of the “Three Wise Guys.” Helen’s sisters Shirley and Midge were married to Mike and Cecil, and because all three men had December birthdays, the nickname stuck.

When Jim wasn’t home or at work, there was a good chance he was behind the wheel of a motorhome. He and Helen would load up the kids — and often anyone else who happened to be around — and head out of town.

On one memorable trip through Idaho, Helen smelled smoke and the motorhome caught fire. The family watched it burn alongside the highway. Other adventures took the family mostly to Canada, the Oregon Coast, California, Arizona, Colorado and more.

Helen once said she made the mistake of buying a camper trailer. She quickly traded it for a motorhome because Jim wouldn’t stop talking long enough to hook up the trailer. By the time the Krafts left a campground or gas station, it seemed everyone there knew Jim.

Jim made friends everywhere he went. He could leave the house at 7 a.m. to play golf without a problem, yet Helen somehow couldn’t get him out the door on time for Mass.

After retiring from 20 years of firefighting, Jim began selling Medicare supplements for Healthcare Inc. and later property and casualty insurance with Aetna and Allstate. He enjoyed driving throughout the Palouse and talking with people. Sometimes he became so involved in the conversation that he forgot to have the customer sign the insurance paperwork and had to drive back.

Jim, Helen and Beverly later joined Patrick at Kraft Insurance, bringing another chapter of the family together in the insurance business.

Jim and Helen relocated to Spokane’s South Hill in 2013 to be closer to Patrick and granddaughters Teagan and Lucia. Jim loved Gonzaga basketball and would happily talk with anyone about the Zags, usually while decked out in Gonzaga gear.

He remained a kid at heart. He loved taking his granddaughters to the park, attending Easter egg hunts and birthday celebrations. He hosted sledding and billiard parties with grandson Kurt who visited from Austin, TX. In recent years, grandson Nathan and his wife Nicole, along with grandson Tim, helped Jim with household tasks. Through it all, Jim maintained his sense of humor and his lifelong passions for family, golf, Fox News and the Zags.

The family extends a special thank you and heartfelt appreciation to the healthcare team at Rockwood South Hill Memory Care for their compassionate oversight they provided Jim during the last four years of his life.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Marcus Kraft and Josephine Mary Schuster Kraft; his nine siblings; and his daughter, Anna Marie Kraft.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Elise Brower Kraft; daughter Beverly Lively Richards (Wayne Richards); grandson Nathan Lively (Nicole); son Dr. James Kraft (Breta); grandson Kurt Kraft; son Patrick Kraft (Janelle); granddaughters Teagan and Lucia Kraft, grandsons Joseph, James, Matthew and Tim Delahaye; great-grandchildren Leo and Vera Delahaye and Palmer Delahaye; and 35 nieces and nephews.

Family, friends, and caregivers are respectfully invited to a Vigil and recitation of the Holy Rosary on Thursday, October 1st at 5 p.m. at Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, 1115 W. Riverside Avenue, Spokane WA 99201.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 2nd at 10 am at Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, with Fr. David Gaines officiating. The Eulogy and lunch will immediately follow the Mass at the Cathedral basement.

The Rite of Committal and burial will take place at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery 17825 E Trent Ave Spokane Valley, WA 99216.