Obituary

Lee Kraft

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Lee Kraft, passed away on July 23, 2022, at the age of 82.

Lee was born January 25, 1940, in western North Dakota.  Her early years were spent on her parents’ farm and attending school in a one-room schoolhouse.  In relating stories to her grandchildren, Lee described her father taking her to school in a horse-drawn sleigh when the roads were blocked with snow.

Lee had an extensive career in nursing and nursing education beginning at the University of North Dakota.  As a Professor of Nursing, she taught many classes, her favorites being Nursing Theory and Public Health.  Her students conducted annual visual, hearing, and scoliosis screenings at local elementary schools.  She made multiple trips to the state capitol to lobby for passage of legislation that is now commonplace such as baby seat safety laws, sex education, wheelchair accessible curbs, and higher nursing education standards.

After receiving a PhD in Nursing from the University of Texas, Lee taught graduate level nursing courses at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine.  In addition, Lee worked as a Nurse Practitioner at an OBGYN clinic in an underserved community and worked many shifts in local Neo-natal units to alleviate some of the nursing shortage.

Upon retirement, Lee’s personal passions included spending time with her grandchildren, public health work with Hoag Hospital, gardening, knitting hats for soldiers serving in Afghanistan and cancer survivors, genealogy, Laguna Niguel Republican Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, and competitive bridge.

In loving celebration of the life of Lee Kraft, the family has established a memorial tribute fund at the Hoag Hospital Foundation.  In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent in memory of Lee to Hoag Hospital Foundation (330 Placentia Avenue, Suite 100, Newport Beach, CA 92663).  Gifts will be directed to the Hoag Community Health Faith Nursing Program/the Parish Nurse Program.  Gifts can also be made by visiting HoagHospitalFoundation.org and selecting the “Donate” tab at the top of the page.