Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Fr. Kreft remembered for being 'a priest's priest'
Fr. Kreft remembered for being 'a priest's priest'
by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 21, 2009
Detroit - Fr. Henry Kreft is remembered as a kind and gentle priest whom other priests could turn to.
"He was a very gentle, very thoughtful, considerate and loving guy. He was a real priest - a priest's priest. If you needed to go to confession or had a problem, you'd go to Henry," said Fr. Edward Konopka, a senior priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
He said he had known Fr. Kreft since they were students together at St. Stephen Elementary School on Detroit's west side, and he added that Fr. Kreft had "preached at my 25th anniversary Mass."
"I always looked up to him, and would tell myself, 'If Henry can do it, you can do it," added Fr. Konopka, who now helps out at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Coral Springs, Fla.
Msgr. Thomas Villerot, another senior priest, recalled living in the same rectory with Fr. Kreft back when the monsignor was still an associate pastor: "I liked him very much. He was a very fine priest, and the Polish people in the parish really liked him."
Fr. James O'Hagen, also a senior priest, recalled that Fr. Kreft liked to play golf, and added, "He was a very pleasant, nice guy."
Fr. Kreft died last Saturday, Aug. 15. He was 92.
Henry Stanislaus Kreft was born Feb. 25, 1917, in Detroit, and attended St. Stephen Elementary School and St. Casimir High School, both in Detroit, before going on to St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.
He was ordained Feb. 24, 1945, as a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Stephen Church.
Fr. Kreft served as associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish, Detroit (1945-50); St. Lawrence Parish, Detroit (1950-55); St. Mary Parish, Wayne (1955-60); and St. Peter Parish, Mount Clemens (1960-61). He also served as administrator at St. Alexis Mission, Willow Run (1961-65); and as pastor at Sacred Heart of the Hills Parish, Auburn Hills from 1965 until he was granted senior priest status in 1987.
In recent years, Fr. Kreft suffered from Parkinson's disease.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Fr. Kreft's body was to lie in state at Sacred Heart of the Hills Church, 3400 S. Adams Road, Auburn Hills, on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m.
Burial was to be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Baranski, 562 Shoreham, Grosse Pointe Woods 48236‑3428.
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