Gloria Yvonne (Vonnie) Kraal

Gloria Yvonne (Vonnie) Kraal

December 24, 1931 — November 21, 2018

Yvonne came into this world in a small farmhouse in Taylor, Neb. Yvonne left this world peacefully in her sleep the day before Thanksgiving. She was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Peggy, brother, George, and her brother and best friend, Jim.

Vonnie was born in the same house as her grandmother, Geneva, and mother, Ruth. Vonnie was born several weeks early and for one month slept close to the wood-burning stove in a small cradle her grandfather built for her.

About 10 years later, along with her brother Jim and mother Ruth, she relocated to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Yvonne and Jim traveled alone from Taylor, Neb., to meet their new brother George and new sister Peggy. All four attended a two-room grammar schoolhouse in Copeland, Idaho. She became a cheerleader at Bonners Ferry High school and was very social with her best friends Phyllis, Betty and Eleanor and graduated with 75 others in 1950. Vonnie kept in touch with high school reunions and regular visits and had lifelong friendships with many of her classmates, and has many friends and relatives in Bonners still.

Right after graduation Vonnie attended and completed nursing school in Spokane, Wash., where she met a dashing young airman by the name of Lloyd Kraal. They were married in 1955 and had four children: Kimberly, Lloyd, Kevin and Kurt. They raised their family in Daly City, Calif. Vonnie worked as a registered nurse at the cerebral palsy center then as director of nurses and hospital director at various hospitals.

In 1980 Yvonne relocated again to Sonoma, Calif., to be closer to her brother Jim, where she worked and went to Sonoma State. Vonnie graduated and was awarded her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Yvonne then went to work investigating medical fraud and retired after completing a distinguished career with the State of California.

Gloria Yvonne Kraal leaves behind her four children, 10 grandchildren, four great grandchildren, 14 nieces and nephews, four first cousins, her sweetheart George and countless friends and coworkers.

The family would like to thank Vonnie’s nieces and nephews and their kids and all of her extended family and friends for helping us with our mother over the years, and especially her brother Jim and sister-in-law Gloria. Yvonne was heartbroken after her brother Jim passed on in August of this year.