Donald Kraen

Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Patrick Kraen, 93-year-old lifelong Buffalo resident who passed away July 14, 2023, at Amie Holt Care Center surrounded by his family, will be celebrated Friday, July 21^st, 2023, at 10 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Phil Wagner officiating.  A visitation will be held on Thursday at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A Vigil Service will be held and the Rosary recited on Thursday at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at 6:00 p.m. Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with military graveside services immediately following the Mass. Donations in Don’s memory may be made to the American Legion Powder River Post #13 for Veteran Markers at 18 Veteran’s Avenue in Buffalo, the Buffalo Kiwanis Club at P.O. Box 4 in Buffalo, or the Hazel Patterson Trust at 130 S. Main in Buffalo, Wyoming 82834.  Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.

Don, known to many as ‘Donald P’ or ‘Windy,’ was born in Buffalo, Wyoming, on October 16, 1929, to Mary Kraen and was then adopted and lovingly raised by his grandmother, Johanna Kraen.  He was a lifelong resident of Buffalo and a 1947 graduate of Johnson County High School.

Don knew the importance of hard work and carried this ethic throughout his life even to his last days. As a young boy he helped his grandmother make ends meet by taking various jobs including cutting, wrapping, and delivering the local bakery bread out of a pulled wagon to Main Street grocers and cafés all before school; setting bowling pins at the local pool hall; and various lawn work. He also helped ranchers with brandings and shearings, stomping, and tying wool.  He left his carved initials on many fences, barns, and lambing sheds.

After graduating from high school, Don headed west to San Francisco, where he enrolled in college and studied accounting.  He returned to Buffalo where he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation and Northside Service Station before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951. He was deployed for active duty on the front lines of the Korean War.  He was assigned to the 49^th Field Artillery, 7^th Division, and promoted to Sgt. First Class and put in charge of a 105-howitzer gunner battalion.  He was honorably discharged in 1953.  Years after service to his country he was honored in 2016, receiving the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal presented by the South Korean Consul and Wyoming Governor, Matt Mead.

In 1954, he married the love of his life, Vyonne Joubert, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Buffalo. From this union, they raised a devoted loving family of five.  Don’s professional career began as Buffalo City Clerk but soon accepted a job at the Wyoming Bank & Trust Company in 1957.  He held every position there including janitor, teller, and bookkeeper, before becoming President and a major shareholder.  He was known in Johnson County as a generous businessman and friend helping many start and maintain their ranches and businesses-often on a handshake. He retired from the bank in 1992.

Throughout his life he was dedicated to Buffalo and serving his community, working tirelessly to make it a better place.  This was evident in the many awards he received in recognition of his years of this service.  Don was a lifetime member of the Buffalo Kiwanis Club (also serving as Wyoming Lieutenant Governor); the Knights of Columbus; the American Legion Powder River Post #13; and the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce (and The Wild Bunch).  He served on the Johnson County School Board, City of Buffalo Zoning Board, Board of Elections, and numerous scholarship committees.  He was co-founder of the Gatchell Museum Association, delivered Meals on Wheels, clerked many fair livestock sales, and was part of the Buffalo High School Football Chain Gang for over 43 years until finally moving to the bleachers at the age of 83. 

Don loved spending time with family and friends, enjoyed the family mountain cabin, snow machining with the Myers and Michelena clans, wintering in Arizona, Las Vegas & Deadwood trips, Big Horn Mountain trail rides, county fair and rodeos, restoring antique furniture, playing cards, lending a hand at brandings and shipping, and riding his lawn tractor.  He very seldom missed any event involving his family and grandkids. Don was a kind and happy man full of love and generosity to all who knew him. His sense of humor was contagious and often his uncontrollable laughter would leave him close to passing out. He has left a legacy and footprint in Buffalo and Johnson County that will never be forgotten.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, mother, brothers Herman Kraen and Arthur ‘Coog’ Myers, sisters Patricia ‘Annie’ Michelena, Mary Ann Harvey, Thelma McCracken, and Janie Maya.  Don is survived by his devoted wife, Vyonne, of 68 years, his children Vernita (Randy) Marton of Casper, Gary Kraen of Nashville, Tennessee, Shelley (Zach) Armstrong of Buffalo, Teresa Hicks (David Krings) of Bottineau, North Dakota, and Lisa (Donny) Peterson of Buffalo; nine grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Doug (Carla) Myers, Herman (Patty) Myers, and Willie (Donna Knudson) Myers; sisters Johanna (Lee) Gaskill and Kathy (Ed) Snyder; sisters-in-law Sue Myers, Linda Nielsen; brothers-in-law Homer Harvey, Larry Joubert, and Fred McCracken; numerous nieces and nephews and countless cousins from the Kraen and Michelena families.