Elsie Kraft Link
Elsie Kraft Link, 79, of Des Peres, Missouri, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of Bill Link; loving mother and mother-in-law of Brian (Kim) Link, Bridget (Fred) Goglia, and Lori (Brian) Pelling; cherished grandmother of Will, Anna, Mya, Max, Emmy, and Charlie; dear sister to the late Ben and Gretta Kraft; and a treasured friend to many.
A Brentwood native, Elsie earned her degree in education from the University of Missouri before embarking on a career as a teacher in St. Louis and eventually at the Navy base in Rota, Spain. In 1969, she married Bill following his return from serving in Vietnam. Just one week later, they began a three-year adventure in Spain, followed by three years in Annapolis, Maryland, before returning home to the St. Louis area. In her later years, she enjoyed her winter months spent in the Florida sun.
Elsie’s greatest joy was her family, and she took immense pride in following their many adventures. She had a creative side expressed mostly through her interest in interior design and glass fusion. Her curiosity for the world led her to explore nearly every corner of the globe, visiting five continents. Elsie’s legacy of kindness, compassion, and her gift for listening with a sincere heart will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Please join us in celebrating a life beautifully lived and a woman who was profoundly loved.
Memorial Information: Saturday, January 10, 2026. Visitation 9:30-11:00 and service from 11-11:30 at St Lucas United Church of Christ, 11735 Denny Rd, St Louis, MO 63126. A luncheon to celebrate Elsie’s life will immediately follow. She will be laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks in a private graveside ceremony.
In lieu of flowers: Please consider a donation made in Elsie’s honor to the following organizations: No Stomach for Cancer or Lydia’s House St. Louis
She was an amazing woman and will be dearly missed. I’m proud to have married into the Link family. Elsie was very good at games at family get togethers and made it a real challenge at any domino, card, or board game. We love her very much and will miss her a great deal.
Elsie has been a dear friend since seventh grade. She has always been sweet and kind. We have shared so many memories and so much love. I, as well as our friends, will miss her greatly.
I admired Elsie very much. Gracious, kind, thoughtful, highly intelligent. I was lucky to be invited to play Mixed Nuts volleyball and enjoyed a wonderful group of friends through that group. Bill and Elsie were a part.
I have known Elsie for many years . She
was always very sweet…a gentle spirit !
Elsie loved playing games, especially
Cards and was quite good at beating her opponents! I will miss her immensely.
Rest in peace, my friend. You are loved.
Elsie was the best kind of friend to have. She would do anything for you ! She loved her family dearly and always had a smile ! Will miss her as a friend and in our book club
As a classmate of Elsie’s from kindergarten at Mark Twain through Brentwood High School, I remember her as always the kind, gentle soul with a ready smile and pleasant demeanor. I am pleased to know she was rewarded with a loving family and blessed with a full and productive life.
Elsie was a wonderful friend and a good person. Our Sunday card group at the Villages will very much miss her. She and Bill would come every Sunday when they were here. Our deepest sympathy to Bill and the family.
Elsie was a wonderful friend, a loving wife, Mother and Grandmother. I feel very privileged to have known her for forty plus years.
My deepest sympathy to Bill and his family. John
We knew Elsienand Bill through a neighborhood soup group, hiking group and volleyball group. They also hosted us twice when were house hunting in Florida. After we moved the we would meet foe dinner during the winter.. Elsie was a kind and gracious lady. She was a joy to be around.
When Elsie joined our book club I gained another dear friend. Elsie was such an intelligent, loving, sweet & kind soul. I will miss my book club buddy. May Gods love & peace surround & enfold our dear Elsie , Bill & her loving family.
Elsie was always pleasant and easy to get along with. Among her many attributes the one that stands out to me was her being such a good mother. I know that my brother Bill and the children will miss her very much and I will miss her, too.
She told it like it was, but in a pleasant way, a very honest person. She even tolerated Bill and I talking about the Cardinals on the telephone.
Aunt Elsie was such a wonderful woman. I was very little when they got married but have very fond memories of the day as well as years of wonderful memories. My love to those dear ones still with us💕
Elsie was not only a fun friend to be with, but she was also a loving, caring person. We shared so many special experiences and years of from meeting as locker partners in 7th grade and all the way through our lives. This is not goodbye, Elsie. I know the best is yet to come as we continue sharing together forever one day our lives in Heaven.
💗 Betsy (White) Bealer January 2, 2026 at 5:35 pm
We met Bill and Elsie through St Johns UCC Church and shared many activities with them there. Elsie was always such a kind soul and gentle hearted lady. My fondest memory is flying over Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska with Elsie and Bill. We decided on that flight that God must surely live up there for nowhere else in the world could be more majestic or beautiful. And now God has welcomed her into his loving arms.
My husband and I were very fortunate to meet Elsie in our neighborhood social group and to play cards with her on Sunday during their winters in Florida.. what always comes to mind when I think of Elsie is her ever present smile. She was always kind and it was a joy playing games with her. My sympathy to Bill and her loved family. We will miss her.
My heart goes out to Bill and his family. Elsie was a special person, and she will be missed. I will keep her family in my prayers.
This world lost a kind, compassionate. cheerful soul and I lost my caring and friendliest neighbor.
Elsie – you may be gone but you’ll never be forgotten. GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL.!!!
BILL I am so sorry for your loss May God give you strength to endure the loss of your life-mate.
Aunt Elsie was such a kind and understanding aunt. I have so many good reunion and visiting memories from when I was young. After I was grown, any time we met, she could give me such helpful and gentle advice. My heart is with her family suffering such a great loss.
So very sorry for your loss Bill. She was definitely a real sweetheart of a women. She always wore a smile, and in was contagious. From me and all of us Kirkwood Optimists, we offer our sincere condolences and prayers. R.I P. Elsie, you will be greatly missed.
Elsie always had a kind word to all she met. Our sympathy goes out to Bill and family. She will,be missed.
I knew Elsie in several ways. She was a neighbor. She was a member of the same church circle as I was. She was a fellow parent in the Kirkwood schools. Laurie and mark were classmates. Elsie was the epitome of grace. She was a charming hostess, a willing volunteer, a lovely friend who always had a positive word for everyone. She always thought of everyone else before herself. I also enjoyed her laugh. So sorry about her death.