Michael J. Kraft

Michael J. Kraft, 80, passed away on October 28, 2026, at his home in Colts Neck, NJ.

Mike will be remembered for his kind, loving heart, positivity, charm, and sense of humor, He had a special ability to connect and make an everlasting impression on everyone he met. He lived a full 80 years doing what he loved. He enjoyed each day to the fullest taking trips to Atlantic City with Janet, teeing off at Bella Vista, cruising with his hon in his Corvette and spending quality time with his 11 grandchildren that adored him. Mike was an avid reader and enjoyed passing on the information he learned. Anyone that spoke to him learned something new and walked away a better person. Mike is irreplaceable and will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

Mike was born in Pittsburg, PA, and grew up in Verona and lived there for most of his life until he married Janet Scerra on September 13, 1969, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange. They were married for an amazing 57 years. They first lived in Belleville for a brief time before moving to Verona and then to West Orange where they resided for 38 years raising their four children together. They then moved to Colts Neck where they have lived for the past 13 years.

Mike was a graduate of Our Lady of the Lake School and Verona High School. Mike proudly served his country in the US Navy from 1965 - 1969. He then was a draftsman in his younger years and at 62 became an entrepreneur and founded Kraft Industrial Cleaning in Linden, NJ.

Mike was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Lillian (Riley) Kraft.

Mike leaves behind his beloved wife, Janet Kraft; his four loving children, Dawn Jannucci and her husband, Michael; Michael Kraft and his wife, Laura; Danelle Ratuis; and Jennifer Branco and her husband, Antonio. He was the proud and devoted grandfather of eleven cherished grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, and Nicholas Jannucci; Keira, Camryn, and Trevor Kraft; Johnny and Victoria Ratuis; and Eli, Austin, and Antonio Branco. He is also lovingly remembered by his siblings, Daniel Kraft and his wife, Pat; Jeanne Kraft; Betty Turnbull and her husband, Mike; David Kraft and his wife, Natalie; Kathy Vidal and her husband, Chris; and Rita Levine and her husband, Bob.

Visiting will be held in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044 on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, November 2 at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 28 Lakeside Avenue, Verona at 10:00 am. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations in Michael Kraft's memory to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, P. O. Box 24041, New York, NY 10087 (www.curemeso.org) would be greatly appreciated.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left on his obituary page at www.proutfuneralhome.com.