"Keeping The Memories Alive"

---

COACH JOE KRAFELS



I'm sure many of you will remember Coach Joe Krafels. I'm guessing he probably taught a number of you to drive too. Sadly, he passed away suddenly on April 2, 2008.

Here is Coach Krafels' obituary as reported in "The Hutchinson News" on April 4, 2008:

HUTCHINSON, KANSAS - Joe Krafels, 82, died April 2, 2008, at Hutchinson Hospital after a sudden illness.

He was born Aug. 4, 1925, at Scammon, the son of Joe and Nona Johnson Krafels. He graduated from Winfield High School and Wichita State University. He was a teacher and coach at Hoisington High School, coming to Hutchinson High in 1956, where he was the basketball coach for 12 years and served as Director of Student Activities until retiring in 1988.

Joe belonged to the First Baptist Church, the National Education Association, Hutchinson Retired Teachers Association and was inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Hall of Fame in 1990.

On Nov. 23, 1949, he married Jane Wheeler at Oxford. She survives. Others survivors include: sons, Rodney, Rick and wife Cyndi, and Ron and wife Nancy; daughter, Carla Childs and husband Dan, all of Hutchinson; sister, Billie Anderson, Austin, Texas; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey, John and Jennifer Krafels, Lindsey Koebel, Jill Roberts, Allison Cole, Savannah, Sydney and Austin Childs; three great-grandchildren, Hannah, Addison and Natalya Krafels.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with Pastor Matt Stafford presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary.

Memorials may be sent to T.E.C.H., in care of the funeral home.

Personal condolences may be sent to Elliott Mortuary.

Rest In Peace Coach.