Date of Birth: June 27, 1965
Date of Death: May 27, 2026
Dwayne Clifford Kraft, age 60, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Dwayne leaves to mourn his beloved wife Lori; son Parker; daughter Brooklynn (Kelly) Beckett; and cherished granddaughters Marlaina and Nora. He will also be deeply missed by his in-laws Dave and Sharon Ell; best friends Bruce and Lorie Graff; sisters Cheryl, Lisa and Trena (Jon); as well as numerous friends, cousins and relatives.
He was predeceased by his parents, Clifford and Verna Kraft.
Dwayne was born June 27, 1965 in Tisdale and grew up in rural Saskatchewan, spending his early years on the family farm near Kamsack. In 1970, the family moved to Melville after his parents purchased Bo-Kay Florists.
After graduating from the Melville Comprehensive School, Dwayne moved to Moose Jaw, where he earned his Surveying Technologist diploma from STI, now Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He later settled in Regina, where he met Lori in 1988 through her cousin Tina.
Dwayne and Lori were married in 1991 and built a life filled with love and family. They welcomed daughter Brooklynn in 1994 and son Parker in 1997. Dwayne was a devoted father who loved coaching his children and cheering them on in all their sporting activities.
An avid sports fan, Dwayne enjoyed playing slow pitch and faithfully cheering on his favourite teams, especially the Cleveland Guardians and Montreal Canadiens. Winters were spent at the rink supporting the Melville Millionaires. Over the years, Dwayne dedicated countless hours to the team as a volunteer, board member, president, billet family, and announcer. Known affectionately as “The Velvet Fog,” he rarely missed calling a Millionaires game, and his unmistakable voice and presence will be greatly missed by the entire hockey community.
Dwayne’s greatest pride and joy were his granddaughters, Marlaina and Nora. He loved attending Marlaina’s band concerts, watching her play bass guitar, and being surprised by her backup singing and harmonica performances. More recently, he enjoyed cheering her on in volleyball and flag football and was immensely proud of all her accomplishments. Dwayne also treasured every moment spent with Nora and loved making her smile. His mornings often began with a happy photo of Nora — the perfect way to start his day.
Dwayne loved his family and friends deeply and was grateful to spend so much meaningful time with them during his final weeks.
The family would like to thank everyone for the love, kindness, and support they have received during this difficult time.
A Memorial Service held on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Melville with Pastor Ronald Shumba officiating. The Celebration of Dwayne’s Life continued at the CN Community Centre following the Memorial Service.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral and Cremation Service, Melville.
