Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend Joseph Krank went to be with the Lord on December 17, 2012. Joe’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m., Friday, December 21, 2012 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Shannon Lucht as the celebrant. Military honors will follow the Mass and be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Tony Wanner and Deacon Ron Wolberg presiding.
Joe was born March 6, 1925 in Dickinson, one of 14 children born to Christian and Anna Mary (Heiser) Krank. He grew up on the family farm near Schefield and graduated from Schefield High School in 1943. He continued to help out on the farm while his older brothers were off to war. Once they returned home, Joe took his turn to serve his country in the occupation of Japan following WWII. He returned from the service in 1947 and continued his education at Dickinson State College. On June 10, 1948 he married Dorothy Thielen, and they settled on the family farm purchased from Dorothy’s parents, located near Gladstone. They lived there, farming, ranching and raising their family, until retiring to Dickinson in 2005.
Joe enjoyed life and always appreciated the outdoors whether it was farming, ranching, gardening, camping, boating, fishing, hiking, BBQing or settling around a campfire with family and friends. He liked animals and caring for the cattle and llamas, feeding the birds, rabbits and cats, and admiring the deer or whatever else wandered through. He loved gardening and took great pleasure in having fresh vegetables. He always had room for another tree, caring for hundreds of beautiful evergreens he planted on the farm. He believed in hard work and honesty, the importance of which he passed along to his children. He was a generous man and was always there to help each one with building houses and sheds, farming and ranching and whatever needed to be done. He showed great pride in our accomplishments and always had time to lend an ear and offer advice. How we will miss that comforting reassurance.
After retiring Joe and Dorothy traveled to visit the children and ventured off to many parts of the country, their favorite being Alaska where they tackled the airplane ride to the northern most point of the continent, Point Barrow, Alaska. Joe had a special love for the mountains and water and enjoyed it all at their cabin in Anaconda, Mont. They rarely missed a year of traveling west and this year was no exception. It was not easy in his condition, but Joe made one last trip to walk the property making sure everything was taken care of.
Joe lived a good long life and leaves behind his devoted wife of 64 years, Dorothy, children, Marvin (Terry), Ed (Belle), Gary (Lynn) of Gladstone area, Kevin (Kathy), Mina, S.D., Lorna (Dan) of Anaconda, Mont., and Russ (Dawn) of Byers, Colo., grandchildren, Leah, Jay, Dawn, Jamie, Kari, Justin, Jordan, Kasey, Brandon and Taylor, 10 great-grandchildren and one brother, Martin. He is preceded in death by his parents, 12 brothers and sisters, and granddaughters Cammy Jo and Erin.
