William J. Kratt, 82, of La Crosse died Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Clare Bridge care facility. Bill was born May 7, 1931, in Milwaukee to Joseph and Lumina (Harmon) Kratt. His parents later moved to La Crosse where his father started Kratt Lumber Company. Bill graduated with honors from Aquinas High School in the class of '49 where he played on the football and golf teams. He went on to college initially at UCLA on a ROTC scholarship, and the next year received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1954. After graduation, Bill married his high school sweetheart Maureen A. Hutson at Blessed Sacrament Parish in La Crosse on June 12, 1954. Bill then attended Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida and went on to serve as a lieutenant pilot for five years in the U.S. Navy. He flew P2V Neptune'-s in the Aleutian islands of Alaska patrolling U.S. airspace during the cold war. After serving in the Navy, Bill attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in architecture. At that point, he and Maureen moved their growing family back to La Crosse where he went to work for Hackner, Schroeder & Associates. He later started his own architectural firm, Kratt Associates. Kratt Associates was responsible for the design of many commercial buildings in La Crosse. He took pride in contributing to his community, and was responsible for the designs for Blessed Sacrament Parish Center, Aquinas High School, and several area health care facilities, as well as countless others. Bill was a past president of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce and an active member of Blessed Sacrament parish. Bill loved his family, his dogs, golf, fishing and spending Sundays at the cottage with his family. All who knew him will comment on his quick wit and dry sense of humor, yet his love for his family and friends was always visible. He had a special fondness for all of the animals in his life, and he could always be found surrounded by several canine companions. He will be deeply missed by all his family and friends. Bill is survived by Maureen, his loving and dedicated wife of 59 years, a daughter and five sons, LuAnne Kratt of La Crosse; Bill (Susanne) Kratt of La Crosse; Bob (Melissa) Kratt of Trempealeau; Tom (Lisa) Kratt of La Crosse; Joe (Lisa Verhota) Kratt of La Crescent, Minn.; Doug (Kim) Kratt of La Crosse; 10 grandchildren, William (Sarah) Kratt of La Crosse; Danielle (Robert) Shuman of Beijing, China; Roland, Jasmine, and Teagan Kratt of Trempealeau; Tommy Kratt of La Crosse; Samuel and Sarah Lu Kratt of La Crescent, Minn.; Zachary and Madison Kratt of La Crosse; and three great-grandchildren, William Hans Kratt, Ollie Kratt, and Laynie Shuman. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard (Phyllis) Kratt of La Crosse. The Kratt family gives thanks to the staff of Clare Bridge, MCHS-FH Hospice and Dr. Stephen Pavela for their kindness and wonderful care of Bill. A wake will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home 1501 West Ave. S. with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. S. in La Crosse, the Rev. David Olson will officiate with interment to be in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Aquinas Catholic Schools or Blessed Sacrament Parish. Online condolences may be left at www.blaschkeschneider.com.
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