Holland mourns educator and philanthropist Frank Kraai
HOLLAND — The city of Holland suffered an enormous loss Thursday, July 11, with the passing of Frank Kraai.
The news was posted by Kraai's niece, Shannon Elhart, on social media. It comes less than three months after Kraai was in attendance for the groundbreaking of Holland Ice Park, a development he made possible with a $1.1 million donation.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, and I say that for a life ...” he said to those gathered at the groundbreaking Tuesday, April 23, according to MLive. “I’m 88-years-old and I think I’ve had the richest life anybody could have.”
“My Uncle Frank had a beautiful life,” Elhart wrote Thursday. “He was a bright light in this world, and he’ll continue to be, as I know he’s touched so many lives … countless lives. The ripple effect of his love and compassion could never be measured.”
More: City breaks ground on much-anticipated Holland Ice Park
Kraai was an elementary school teacher, principal and loyal volunteer, who made it his mission more than 10 years ago to bring an ice rink to Holland.
“Frank Kraai was an extraordinary, ordinary Holland resident,” Mayor Nathan Bocks wrote in a statement Friday. “Frank helped all of us to see and enjoy the wonderful community we live in.
“As a community, we are disappointed that Frank won’t be there to cut the ribbon (to the rink) in person, but his heart will always be in the ice — and we know he will be listening to the laughter and the joy of the skaters from heaven."
Kraai came from humble beginnings, raised by his father, who was a construction laborer, and his mother, a homemaker. The family lived near 120th Avenue and New Holland Street, across from North Holland Elementary School.
He contracted polio as a young child, which left his body somewhat weakened. After graduating high school, he attempted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a bricklayer, but found the job too taxing.
The rest of Kraai's professional career was teaching at West Ottawa Public Schools and, later, overseeing student teachers at Hope College. Kraai impacted many in education, but locals say it was his generosity that had the biggest impact.
Kraai playing Santa Claus and Sinterklaas for children during the holiday season, helped organize Tulip Time parades and lead Tulip Time tours, supervised the 4-H program at three different Ottawa County fairs, sang with the Holland Chorale for decades and co-hosted a local cable TV program.
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During the groundbreaking for the new ice rink, Kraai expressed his desire to see the development completed.
“Thank you for caring and loving him,” Elhart wrote of her uncle. “He was more dear to me than I can express. My heart is very heavy today, but I am remembering all the blessings I have because of this very kind man who loved me unconditionally and gave so much to others.”
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland mourns educator and philanthropist Frank Kraai
