Obituary of Franz Johannes Kraitzek

KRAITZEK, Franz Johannes, July 11, 1936 to January 18, 2023 The Kraitzek family is deeply saddened to announce the death of our dear brother and uncle who passed away peacefully and with God on January 18, 2023, at the Nuernberg North Hospital, Germany at the age of 86 years old. Franz was born in Ratibor, Germany on July 13, 1936; a happy and healthy first child (of three) to Franz and Frieda (nee Wagner) Kraitzek of Katscher, Germany. Franz lived his early childhood to 8 years old in Katscher, is a town in the Schlesien region of Germany. In March 1945, the family left Katscher and settled in Fuerth in July 1945. Fuerth became Franz’s home for the rest of his life, but he was always proud to be born of Schlesien. His family was his whole world, especially his dear Mutti. After the passing of his mother, Franz shared the family home at Stiller Winkel with his sister Johanna, later moving together to Soldner Strasse and finally the Diakonie Sofienheim. As a result of childhood illness, Franz lived with physical and speech limitations from the age of 8 years old. However, Franz was a resilient child and despite his disabilities, he completed primary school and worked as the long-time gardener and groundskeeper for the Drexler family of Fuerth. Gardening was a great occupation for Franz because he was meticulous, strong, hard-working, and took great pride in his work. Franz transferred his passion and skills to the care of his parent’s gravesite which he tended daily until his age prevented it. The upkeep of the gravesite was his greatest pride and his way of feeling connected to his devoted parents. We like to remember Franz as funny and mischievous (he loved to tease his nieces and nephews), and a perfectionist with a stubborn streak, traits that he shares with many in his family. Franz was a people person. In his daily commute to work and his daily visits to the butcher and the baker, Franz (it seemed) was known by all. Everywhere he went, on the bus or in a store, he was met by friendly faces and someone to talk to. Franz thrived on routine and valued quality, especially in his clothing, and so Franz developed loyal relationships with the shopkeepers in Fuerth. At home, Franz was a man of few words where he enjoyed his daily chores (the dishes belonged to him!), collecting coins, and listening to music from many genres. You could gauge his mood by the music he played, be it marching band, classical, or folk (to which he loved to sing along). Franz had a hardy appetite and loved a great meal. Dining at a restaurant was often “his treat” where he would enjoy a specialty dish like carp or schaufele. From the perspective of his Canadian family (Venice, Robert, Johanna, and Krista), even though we didn’t see “Uncle Frank” and our family in Germany very often, they were able to make us feel special and loved. When we visited with him, Uncle Frank loved to play with us, and across the miles by phone and through the mail, he found ways to tease us and to show us that we were always in his heart and on his mind. And oh, how he loved to wake Hubert up with his 6 am phone calls! Franz is survived by his sister, Johanna Kraitzek of Fuerth, and his brother, Hubert Kraitzek (Evelyn) of Louisdale, Nova Scotia, Canada. He also leaves behind his beloved nieces Venice (David) LeBlanc, Johanna (Warren) Sampson, Krista (Steve) Kraitzek, his precious nephew Robert (Paulette) Kraitzek, six great nieces and nephews and their children (Jamie and Derek LeBlanc, Katrina and Robert Kraitzek, Hannah Sampson and Alex Boudreau), all of Canada as well as many cousins in Germany, but especially Klara Dittrich and her son Ulrich of Giengen, Germany. The Kraitzek family sends our sincerest gratitude to special family friends Helmut and Isabella Pech of Fuerth for providing love and care to Franz and Johanna, and for being with Franz in his final moments when we could not be with him. You are angels on earth. We also wish to thank the staff of the Diakonie Sofienheim in Fuerth for the excellent care provided to Franz since May 2022. Thanks to you, Franz spent the last 8 months of his life with his sister, and with excellent personal care. We could see that he enjoyed his caregivers, the food, and the programs in his new home. Franzel, yours was a long life and well lived despite the odds. You will live forever in our hearts!