ST. JOHNSVILLE- Mr. Wilfred Y. Kraft, former long time Mayor of the Village of St. Johnsville passed away on January 16,2010 at the age of 91. He was born August 21,1918 in St. Johnsville,NY, the son of the late William H. and Nellie (Youker) Kraft. He was a decendent of Jacob Youker, one of the pioneers who settled in this area prior to 1750. He was a graduate of the St. Johnsville High School Class of 1935 and later graduated from the Utica School of Commerce with a Certificate in Accounting. His marriage to Anna L. Schliessman took place in Wiesbaden, Germany on October 2,1948. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force from March 1942 until 1944 when he transferred to the Infantry and became a member of the Third Infantry Regiment ( The Old Guard ). The regiment was stationed in the Frankfurt-Darmstadt area in 1945 and 1946 and for a time did guard duty at General Eisenhower’s Headquarters. His discharge from military service took place on March 9,1946 at Heidelburg, Germany at which time he became an employee of the Finance Div. , Office of Military Gov’t, State of Greater Hesse at Wiesbaden, Germany. Formerly employed by various local industries, he retired in 1981 from the Field Tax Division of the New York State Department of Labor. As a Senior Tax Compliance Agent his territory covered the Syracuse and Utica Districts. For 67 years Mr. Kraft served the community of St. Johnsville either in government or volunteer service. He was Mayor for 34 non-consecutive years, with his last term ending at the age of 85. He also served intermittently 11 years on the Village Board as a Trustee. It was during his administration that the present Fire Station as well as the Department of Public Works Garage and the Waste Water Treatment Plant were built. In 1963 the Village Offices and the Police Dept. moved to the Community House and that building became the center for the Village Government. As a member of St. John’s Reformed Church he served as a Deacon, Elder and Vice-President of its Consistory. He was a 69 year (joined 1941) member of St. Johnsville Masonic Lodge No.611, F. & A.M. where he served as Wor, Master, Secretary and Trustee. He was a 69 year (joined 1941) member of the St. Johnsville Fire Dept. At various times he served that organization as Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain and Fire Police. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development Dist. for many years. He was a former member and a Past President of the St. Johnsville Rotary Club and a former member of Little Falls Elks Lodge No. 42.. He was also a member of American Legion Post No.168, St. Johnsville and VFW Post No. 3275, Fort Plain. Survivors include his 2 daughters: Christa Kraft of Malta,NY and Monica VanDewerker and her husband Gerald of Palm Coast, FL; his 4 grandchildren ; 8 great grandchildren and 2 nephews. He is predeceased by his wife Anna Kraft, born in Mannheim, Germany, and 1 brother Ralph M. Kraft of Murfreesboro,TN. The family will receives community members and friends on Friday, January 22,2010 from 6-8pm at the Enea Family Funeral Home, 9 Center st., Saint Johnsville.A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 23,2010 at 11Am at St. John’s Reformed Church in St. Johnsville. A Masonic service will be held at 6pm Friday night. An American Legion sevice will be held at 6:30pm Friday night. A St. Johnsville Fire Dept. service also will be held that evening. Those wishing to remember Mr. Kraft and his family in a special way may contribute to the St. Johnsville Masonic Lodge No. 611, 24 Bridge St. , Saint. Johnsville, NY 13452 or to the St. Johnsville Fire Department, Main St., Saint. Johnsville,NY.