Anna Kreft Obituary

Anna Bertille "Tillie" (Tobin) Kreft went to her Lord on August 26, 2024, following a brief illness. She was born in 1926 in Detroit, Michigan to Michael Francis and Annie Tobin, the fourth of seven children. The Tobin's moved to Alma, Michigan in the 1930s and Tillie attended Alma College where she met her loving husband Paul Robert and graduated in 1948 with degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry.
Tillie and Paul were married on September 11, 1948, and proceeded to begin a family that grew to include 12 children, each of whom readily admits they had the best parents, best home, best childhood, and best education a child could hope for. Tillie and Paul celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2008. Tillie also nourished her college friendships and was able to FaceTime with her best friend since 1946 two days before she passed.
Tillie created a home that made each of her children feel loved and respected, and always went the extra mile to make birthdays special, help with homework, bake sales, and happily attend hundreds of athletic events. She finished each year by making Christmas truly extraordinary. She also wasn't afraid to try new things and started downhill skiing in her forties which made for some very fun family excursions north. She went high-tech and became quite savvy with her Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone.
Tillie's faith in God guided her throughout her life which she lived in anticipation of meeting God and being reunited with her parents, siblings, and many friends and relatives that went before. She was a member of the Church of the Resurrection since 1965 and the Altar Society Mary Magdalene League for more than 50 years. By God's grace, all of her children were able to be with her to say goodbye and thank you. At one point, she looked up at her kids around her bed and said, "Thank you for making my life so wonderful."
Tillie was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 2009, brothers John, George, and Michael Tobin, sisters Dolores Tobin and Mary Hermes, and brothers-in-law William Hermes and William Pioszak. She is survived by her sister Patricia Pioszak, sister-in-law Lois (Kreft) Duff and brother-in-law John "Jack" Kreft, and her children, Stephen Paul (Henrietta), Michael Scott (Nancy), Thomas Patrick (Ann), Joseph William (Aileen), Mary Lisa Weatherford, William David (James Carlough), Susan Dawn (Bruce) Beier, Laurie Ann (Patrick) Smith, Patricia Lee (Mark) Boyd, John Francis (Kari) Kreft, Jennifer Lynn, Daniel Edwin, and "adopted" daughter Theresa "Tracy" (Maurer) Smith.
Tillie was also blessed to be a grandma to 28 and great grandma to 25 wonderful children who all knew her well and will miss her love and generous spirit.
Visitation is Thursday, August 29 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Palmer Bush & Jensen Funeral Homes Delta Chapel, 6301 W. St. Joe Hwy. Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, August 30 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation prior at 9:30 a.m. at St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow Hwy.
Flowers may be sent to Palmer Bush & Jensen Funeral Homes Delta Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Lansing or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Anna, please visit our floral store.