Duane Kraft

Duane Kraft, 75, of Mandan, ND bravely fought cancer for seven years before passing away peacefully at home on January 12, 2026.

Duane Joseph Kraft was born on June 1, 1950, in Linton, ND, to Bernard (Ben) Kraft and Genevieve (Jenny Roehrich) Kraft. He grew up in Napoleon, ND, alongside his two brothers and two sisters. As a child, Duane suffered major hearing loss due to double ear infection, but it didn’t stop him from being a very sociable person and living a very productive life.

During his teenage years, Duane lettered in wrestling, worked for a traveling carnival for a brief time, and drove trucks for his father's trucking company. As an adult, he established his own business, “Duane Kraft Trucking.”

On October 16, 1976, he married his loving wife of 49 years, Regina (Volk) Kraft, and the couple initially lived in Napoleon, ND where they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Carrie. They eventually moved to Mandan, ND where Duane earned his GED. They went on to have two more children, a daughter Leslie and a son Christopher. In 1994, Duane and Regina purchased “the first house you see coming into Mandan,” where they resided until the fall of 2025.

A lifelong trucker, Duane drove for over 60 years without any accidents of his own accord. The open highway was his second home, logging countless miles over the years. He survived several close calls with death, including being struck in the head with a cheater bar (requiring 27 stitches), a truck rollover and fire from which he was rescued by a passing driver, and enduring a burst appendix for two weeks before an 11-day hospital stay just prior to Christopher's birth.

He demonstrated remarkable creativity by designing his own camper truck, which was highlighted in the 1981 issue of “Owner Operator” magazine. Regina and their young children went with him in his camper truck, as much as they could, trucking across America.

In his later years, Duane's family expanded with eight granddaughters and five great-grandchildren (three boys and two girls), and he played an active role in raising them. Duane was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who was always willing to lend a hand, especially when it came to helping his kids and grandkids.

Duane was a true trivia buff. He could tell you in detail about pretty much any movie with the actors’ real names and acting names. Ask him about songs and he could tell you both the titles and artists’ names. In his spare time, he restored nine classic cars and enjoyed boating, fishing, riding his motorcycle, and savoring great food during travels across the USA.

Duane possessed a keen intuition about people, was a tireless hard worker with a generous spirit, always willing to help those in need, held deep religious beliefs, and cherished hopes for a strong, resilient family.

Duane is survived by his wife, Regina, daughters, M’Lynn Jamesgaard, MN, Carrie Grinsteinner, Mandan, ND, Leslie Kraft, Mandan, ND and son, Christopher Kraft, Mandan, ND, granddaughters, Rabecca, Skylar, Genevieve, Kaylin, Cheyenne, Analise and Adiah, great-grandchildren, Penelope, Silva, Liam, Luke, and Krue, and siblings Sandra Kraft, Topeka, KS, Tim (Marla) Kraft, Wilton, ND, Shar (Gene) Dukart, Bismarck, ND, and many nieces and nephews.

Duane is preceded in death by his father, Ben Kraft, mother, Jenny Kraft, brother, Dennis Kraft, infant brother, Kevin Kraft and niece, Brittany Leier.

In accordance with Duane’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, May 31, 2026, which is the day after his son Christopher’s wedding and the day before his birthday. The time and location are to be announced in May.