Kirk Craft   Kirk Leslie Craft, 27, of LaPorte, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in his home.

   He was born April 25, 1982, in LaPorte, son of Leslie (Yolanda) Craft and Anne (Smith) P. Jongkind, who survive.

   Kirk worked at Caseys in Westville and for his dad at Craft Farms in LaPorte. He was a 2000 LaPorte High School graduate and attended PNC and Ivy Tech State College. He was a Chicago Bulls fan, and enjoyed cooking, playing guitar and writing music. He showed cattle in LaPorte 4-H for nine years, where he won the Showmanship Award.

   Surviving are his parents, Les and Yolanda Craft of LaPorte and Anne P. Jongkind of LaPorte; grandparents, Helen and Richard Pennman of LaPorte; aunt, Nancy Craft of Riverton, WY; sister, Jane (Clive) Evans of LaPorte; two brothers, Mark and Paul Jongkind of LaPorte; and two nieces, Ashley and Jillian Evans.

   He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Vance Craft.

   Visitation will be held at Cutler Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Monday, Nov. 16, from 4 to 7 p.m., and on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 10 to 11 a.m. Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Jay Loucks officiating. Burial will follow the service in Kingsbury Cemetery.

   Contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Food Pantry at Lambs Chapel United Methodist Church, 6006 N. Fail Rd., LaPorte, IN 46350.

   Friends and family are welcome to post memorial messages below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneral.com.