Sarah Elizabeth Morris Kraps

Sarah Elizabeth Morris Kraps, 90, of Bucyrus, died Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Bucyrus Community Hospital.

She was born January 5, 1922 in Marietta to the late George and Belle (Cox) Morris. She grew up in Macksburg, graduated from Macksburg High School in 1940 and received a bachelor’s degree in education from Muskingum College.

Sarah began teaching kindergarten in Etna and on July 27, 1944 she married John Robert Kraps who preceded her in death in 2004. She and Bob, both being involved in public education, had the pleasure of teaching and administrating many individuals in various communities including Lorain County, Wickliffe, Euclid and North Olmsted. She finished her teaching career at North Ridgeville, retiring in 1980. Sarah not only taught in the classroom, she was a private piano instructor for 50 years and very proud of her students’ accomplishments.

She was a charter member of the North Olmsted United Methodist Church where she played organ for the church choir and always enjoyed attending the annual conference at Lakeside. Sarah was also a member of the Chopin Club; Fort Nightly Club and the Piano Student Teachers Guild. Sarah loved life and all of the beauty the earth brought to it. She always tried being positive and seeing the brighter side of things. These characteristics made her a better kindergarten teacher, piano instructor and overall, a happier person.

Sarah is survived by her children, Sarah Elizabeth “Betsy” Leoni and her husband, Pasquale of Greater Philadelphia, Pa., Rev. John Morris Kraps and his wife, Rev. Dr. Rachel Berry of Champaign, Ill. and Rev. Don William Kraps of Bucyrus; five grandchildren, Dietrich Preston and his two children, Liam and Remy Preston, Sam (Tersha) Preston and their child, Gavin, Imogene Berry, John M. Kraps, II and Rachel Berry. In addition to her parents and husband, Sarah was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lois Kraps.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 21 at Bucyrus United Methodist Church, 227 S. Walnut St., where her family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral from 9-10 a.m. Also on Saturday, a graveside burial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Butternut Ridge Cemetery in North Olmsted. Following the graveside service, friends are invited to attend a 2:00 p.m. memorial service at North Olmsted United Methodist Church, 4600 Dover Center Rd. Contributions may be given to either the Bucyrus UMC or the North Olmsted UMC through Wise Funeral Service, 129 W Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820.



Visitation:

Saturday, January 21, 2012 9-10 a.m.

Bucyrus UMC, 227 S. Walnut St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Saturday, January 21, 2012 10 a.m.

Bucyrus UMC, 227 S. Walnut St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Cemetery:

Butternut Ridge Cemetery, North Olmsted, Ohio