Donald Keith Kratzer, 90, of Heviz, Hungary, passed away from this life to his Heavenly Home on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026
He was born on Dec. 18, 1935, in Geneseo, Kansas, the elder son of George and Pauline Kratzer.
Don graduated from Geneseo High School. After graduating, he attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
From the tender age of 7, Don worked beside his father, George, on the family farm until he attended college. He had a lifelong curiosity about how things worked, and that curious and analytical mind served him well throughout his life. When in the sixth grade and walked several miles every day in rain and snow to a country school, he built a makeshift car to transport his sister and cousins to school.
During the late summer of 1956, he raced his own car and won the “B” feature championship at Hutchinson, Kansas. He set two track records during 1957 season. After a near fatal accident on the track, his racing history placed Don in the Kansas Racing Museum in Chapman, Kansas.
He joined the Air Force Reserve program in Oklahoma City in the spring of 1958 and obtained his pilot license.
Don had a successful career with John Deere and Caterpillar Equipment in California as an industrial representative for Arizona, Southern California, and Southern Nevada, until his father became seriously ill and Don moved back to Kansas to help with the family farming operation. While living in Ventura, California, he designed two beach cleaner machines and sold them to the State of California. After his return to Kansas, he was not satisfied with just being a farmer, and in 1977, he received a U.S. Patent and began manufacturing beach cleaners that propelled him into the international business. The last 20 years before retiring at the age of 83, Don was an electrical inspector for the major oil companies on various projects in the U.S. and the Caribbean.
He taught honesty by being honest, hardworking by working hard, service by serving, and faith by living it.
In October of 2020, Don and Judith moved to a Spa Resort in Heviz, Hungary. They have traveled extensively in Europe throughout the years, experiencing new places and meeting new people.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marlyn Kay Brady.
He was previously married to Treva Sue Langford and had two children, Kent Kratzer of Geneseo, Kansas, and Kellie Sue Williams, husband, Richard Williams, of Rome, Georgia.
He is survived by his current wife of 34 years, Judith Kratzer; his two children; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Also he is survived by his brother, Gary Kratzer of Goodland, Kansas, and nephews, Chris Kratzer of Haysville, Kansas, and Brian Kratzer of Scottsdale, Arizona, and many extended family members.
Memorial Service will be held in Keszthely, Hungary, on Oct. 19, at 10 a.m.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, or the Auto Racing Museum in Chapman, Kansas.