In Memoriam: Bert Kraft

Chris Beytes

The Kraft family name has long been synonymous with South Florida horticulture—think Kraft Gardens. Alas, the patriarch of the family, Albert “Bert” Kraft, passed away three days after Christmas at his home in Palm City, Florida, at the venerable age of 96.

A Detroit native, Bert’s work life actually started off in the design & engineering department of Ford Motor Company. World War II stationed him in Hawaii; post-war, he and his wife Millie moved to Fort Lauderdale, where they raised their family and got started in the growing, landscaping and garden center businesses, including Kraft Landscape Nursery & Garden Center and Kraft Gardens, Inc. All of their children, two son-in-laws and a grandson were active in the business. You may recognize the names Kevin Kraft and Dave Fell (who married Bert’s daughter, Karen).

Besides his contributions to the industry, Bert enjoyed his travels all over the world and his RV travels across the United States with both “his Millies” (his late wife Mildred Faulman Kraft and later his companion Mildred Hubbard), but mostly he enjoyed time spent with his family.

Our condolences go out to the Kraft family. GT