Donald E Croft

 Donald (Don) E. Croft, 95, passed away Feb. 17, 2025 at Presbyterian Manor in Newton, Kansas.

 Don was born Dec. 3, 1929 to James William (Bill) Croft and Mary Gertrude (Altig) Croft in Morrill, Nebraska. He had three siblings, an older brother, James (Jim) Jr., and two younger sisters, Joyce and Patsy.

 Most of Don’s childhood was spent in Torrington, Wyoming where his family lived. He played high school football, basketball and participated in track. In 1947 he graduated from Torrington High School and left home. Don enlisted in the Navy where he served as an airplane engine mechanic during the Korean War. After his four year enlistment Don held various jobs, one which took him back to Nebraska where he met the love of his life, Dolores (Dee) Francis Langmacher. Don and Dolores were wed June 16, 1954. In the course of their marriage they had four children, David, Dennis, Douglas and Deanna. Don spent nearly forty years of his adult life as a heavy equipment operator. The majority of those years he operated a crane for King’s Construction Company. Working construction caused their family to move frequently. Their last move was to Newton, Kansas in 1974. Newton became their forever home when he and Dolores decided to buy a house and plant roots. The older, two story home became Don’s “project”. He completely renovated the house himself, even hand digging a storm shelter under the house which became his shop. After retirement from King’s, Don took up refurbishing small furniture pieces which he sold in their flea market booths or gave away. Don and Dolores spent many happy years traveling to see family members (parents, siblings and kids), while shopping for items to sell or selling items to contacts they had made, on their way. The traveling came to an end a few years before Dolores’s death in 2012. A year after her death, Don sold his beloved home and moved to Presbyterian Manor Broadway Apartments. While living in the apartments he made many new friends, enjoyed playing dominos and bingo, taking day trips with his kids and scheduled trips with the manor residents. He spent many evenings with his good friend Lucy watching sports on television and putting puzzles together. Don lived in the apartments until six months before his death when he decided it was time to move to the main building in assisted living. 

 Don was a loving father, grandad and great grandad. He was a quiet, patient and thoughtful man who could fix anything and everything. He will be missed by many.

 Don was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores Croft, parents, Bill and Mary Croft, brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Pat Croft, brother-in-law’s Bud Jordeth and Jim Fabricius, daughter-in-law Becky Croft, grandson Quinn Stephens and good friend Lucy Janzen.

 Don is survived by his sisters, Joyce Jordeth and Patsy Fabricius. His children, David (Judy) Croft of Honolulu, Hawaii, Dennis Croft, Doug (Cindy) Croft all of Newton, Kansas and Deanna (Kurt) Baker of Peabody, Kansas. His grandchildren, Christopher Hamm, Amanda (Catherine) Croft, Erin (Ally) Goniea, Trevor (Kelsea) Hamm, Pearl (Chris) Carrera, Doug (Hannah) Dickerson and ten great grandchildren, Hailey, Portia, Raegan, Makenzi, Mason, Adi, Gemma, Rosalie, Savannah and Dylan.

 Visitation will be held at Petersen Funeral Home on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 5. Family will be present from 2 to 4. A graveside service will be held Monday, Feb. 24 at 11 A.M. at Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas.

 In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials to the American Cancer Society or the American Legion, Post 2, Parade of Flags.