BILL KRAYNAK
June 29, 1936 to November 27, 2018
Rest in Eternal Peace
Bill Kraynak, age 82, passed away peacefully at his long-time home in Hatfield, PA on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. He was born June 29, 1936 in Hazleton, PA, the son of George and Anna (Mindala) Kraynak, and the 12th of 13 children. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy (Foell), 4 sons: Andy (Geri), Dave (Rosemarie), Dan, and Steve (Lori); 12 grandchildren: Sam (Christina), Hannah (Pete), Veronica, Max, Nick, Aaron, Chris, Emily, Adam, Luke, Julia, and Dylan; two great-granddaughters, Harper and Blair, and a great-grandson who will be Bill’s namesake when he is born in January 2019. He is also survived by one brother, 3 sisters and a large extended family, including numerous nieces and nephews who fondly remember him as “everybody’s favorite Uncle Bill.”
His name was Bill, not William, and he had no middle name – direct and unassuming, as was his approach to all things in life.
Bill attended Allentown High School, where he learned the drafting trade and became the diving champion of Allentown, PA. He studied at Philadelphia School of Art and was taught graphic design by his brother Joe. He went on to proudly serve in the U.S. Army Exhibit Unit during a very brief time of peace, where he further honed his art and drafting skills. He enjoyed a long career as a graphic artist and display designer at Merck & Co., where he designed nearly every product exhibit that the company sent out to medical conferences during the 70’s and 80’s. He
earned a patent for a compact and easy to ship product display module.
Bill married Nancy in 1959. After their army years, they bought their first and only home, in Hatfield. There they raised four sons, and over the decades the house and property were transformed into a modern and welcoming home, almost entirely by their own hands. They hosted countless gatherings in that humble Hatfield home from small groups of neighborhood kids all summer long; to holiday get-togethers; epic Saturday night clambakes; and huge family reunions with aunts, uncles and more than 60 cousins.
In the early 1970s, at Nancy’s suggestion, Bill reluctantly agreed to a camping trip. This led to decades of legendary extended family camping trips at various state parks in Pennsylvania and along the East coast. He built seriously large campfires and joked that air traffic would need to be rerouted. They also traveled to many of the National Parks across the country, including Alaska, and to Rome.
He was a founding member of the KBA (Kraynak Basketball Association), playing full court games four (or more) times a week for close to forty years through heat, rain and snow, with brothers, sons, nephews and friends. He rarely missed a shot from 15 feet. Bill retired from the KBA around age 70, but continued playing with his grandkids much longer.
Bill had a great sense of humor and in his last weeks, most of the few things he said were quick-witted jokes. Most of all he just wanted those around him to be happy. He was a great father and husband. He had a very special relationship with each of his grandchildren, taking any opportunity to spend time together and share the simple joys of life. They fondly remember his unfailing humor and practical jokes, genuine love, quiet inspiration, his grubby hat, peanut chews, and “little yellow sucky things” (Werther’s candy).
Bill loved and excelled at woodworking. He crafted beautiful furniture, treasure boxes for each grandchild, carvings, cutting boards, canes to help others, toys, and the cradle that every one of his grandkids and great-grandkids slept in. He could fix or build just about anything.
He enjoyed morning coffee with friends at McDonald’s, sitting on the porch watching the birds, doing crosswords, tending his vegetable garden, and trying to make a good loaf of sourdough bread.
In spite of his many skills and talents and all that he accomplished, he was a very humble man. It is assured that in heaven, he will find something to fix, and God will laugh and be glad Bill is there. They will share a shot and a beer, and Heaven will be a better place.
Bill died as he had lived, quietly and unassuming, but stubbornly on his own terms. He didn’t linger and he didn’t suffer. Bill was steadfast in the things he valued: simplicity, modesty, authenticity. He knew the importance of foundations, and made sure his family was built on a rock solid one. In the hours after he died, his house quickly filled with family for an impromptu wake that Bill, of all people, would have enjoyed. His sons polished off his last bottle of whiskey. His grandchildren’s tear-stained faces were a portrait of how much he was loved. And through the tears, there was laughter. It was the kind of solidarity that lets you know his family will endure for generations.
Bill was a good man, and he will be sorely missed.
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There will be a memorial Mass on Saturday, December 29, 2018
Visitation will be from 9 to 10:45 a.m., Mass at 11.
St.Stanislaus Church
51 Lansdale Ave., Lansdale, PA 19446
A reception will follow at 1 p.m.
North Penn Volunteer Fire Company
141 S. Main St. North Wales PA 19454
Parking is available across the RR tracks along the fence and in the Church parking lot, and in the little shopping center across the street.
If desired, donations may be made to
Manna on Main Street
606 Main St. Lansdale PA 19446