Staff | Kraft Auction Service

At Kraft Auction Services, our staff has over 200 years of auction experience. Composed of family and close friends, they are friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. Our goal is that buyers and sellers feel like a part of our extended auction family whether you participate in 1 or 100 auctions. Below is a little more information about the interests and experience of our staff:

Colonel Conrad Kraft: With over 35 years of auctioneering experience, the Colonel is the founder of Kraft Auction Services. For those of unfamiliar with the auction world, the Colonel is not an actual army colonel rather the title has been used historically for auctioneers as an honorary term. He attended the Indiana College of Auctioneering in 1976. Shortly after that he began Kraft Auction Services with estate sales for friends and family and weekly hay and poultry auctions at Remus Farms in Hobart, Indiana. Although Jonathan Kraft is the primary manager of the business today, the Colonel is still sells and helps set up sales. When he is not working with the business, the Colonel is an avid rabbit breeder. He is well known for breeding Checkered Giants and he has been the superintendent of the rabbit building at the Lake County Fair for over 40 years. In the 80’s, he started the small animal 4H auction at the Lake County Fair to help kids raising poultry, rabbits, and goats to earn a little money for their hard work.
Jonathan Kraft: Jonathan Kraft is the son of Tammy and Conrad, and the current head of Kraft Auction Service. Although he has only been running the business since 2005, he has been working in the auction business since before he can remember! During this time, Jonathan has developed expertise in heavy equipment, fine art, coins, guns, high end antiques, collectibles, collector cars, real estate and benefit-charity auctions. He attended the Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA in 2005. Jonathan earned a BS in Accounting and Management from Purdue University in 2009 and an MBA in Strategy from Purdue’s Krannert School of Management in 2010.In addition to his experience with Kraft Auction Service, he has worked for Kruse International selling collector cars, in the Philippines with Asia International Auctioneers, and was invited to a Ritchie Brothers heavy equipment sale in 2007. He made his television debut on ESPN2’s Bidding Wars from 2005-2007. Bidding Wars is a show featuring top collector car auctions attended by the wealthiest collectors in the world!
In 2007, Jonathan was the reserve champion International Junior Auctioneer and Indiana Auctioneer. In 2008, he was reserve champion in Indiana again, but won the Michigan State auctioneering championship. Since 2007, Jonathan has won numerous marketing awards and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Indiana State Auctioneer Association. And in 2010 was name the Indiana State Champion Auctioneer!
Tammy Kraft: Tammy is Jonathan’s mom and an integral part of Kraft Auction Services. In the early days, she served lunch out of the back of the auction trailer. As sales got bigger, she was needed registering and checking-out bidders. She is friendly and knowledgeable about all parts of the auction process and is happy to answer any questions you might have. In addition to working at the auctions, she keeps the books for Kraft Auction Service. If you would like to visit Tammy outside of the sales, she works full-time at the Peoples Bank in Valparaiso, Indiana. She will be happy to help you get more information about a loan, open an account or handle any of your other banking needs!
Mary Govert: Mary is Conrad’s sister. Like Tammy, she has been with Kraft Auctions since the beginning. Mary works in the auction trailer registering and checking-out bidders. Mary is a favorite amongst regular bidders because she always has a smile on her face and has the world’s fastest fingers on the calculator when adding up tickets. When Mary is not at the auction, she is the executive director of the St. Jude Shelter for Battered Women in Crown Point, Indiana.
Tony Wirtz: When we need a trailer hauled somewhere or packed up just right, we call Tony Wirtz. Tony has been helping out Conrad with Kraft Auction Services since he started the business. Their long working relationship has lead to a good friendship, but don’t be surprised to see these two men arguing with each other when they are setting up sales or packing up a house. Tony worked for Hobart Schools for 30 years. Now, he keeps himself busier than when he was working! Every morning he stops in to check on his restaurant, The Bright Spot. During the day, he is usually working for Kraft, working on the farm, or cooking his famous ham and beans for local parties. Tony comes complete with tent, tables, great food, and a good personality if you would like to hire him for your gathering or event!
Kyle Stepnoski: An aspiring auctioneer and student at Crown Point High School, Kyle Stepnoski has become a vital part of the Kraft operation. He started attending auctions with his father, Joe, as a little boy. He is a jack of all trades, packing up houses, setting up sales, working as a ringman, distributing and making fliers, and bringing in big dollar bidders. One of Kyle’s greatest contributions was his recent find of a bidder who paid $7,200 for John Dillinger memorabilia. When Kyle is not working for Kraft Auction Service, he is finding a creative way to make a buck including selling tools at the flea market, reselling pots and pans, or selling candy at school.
Little’s Lunch: When Tammy retired from fixing lunch and moved into the auction trailer, Ms. Little took over. Since then, she has been cooking delicious meals that have become famous at Kraft Auction Service sales. The menu changes each week, but staff favorites include chicken soup, potato soup, sloppy joe’s, barbecue sandwiches, walking tacos, and of course any of her famous homemade baked goods. Although Jonathan won’t tell his mom this, Ms. Little’s cookies are his favorite in the world. Ms. Little, her son Perry and their helpers are happy to provide you with a good meal and a drink at a reasonable price!
Diane Christian: Diane Christian is a long time family friend of the Kraft’s. She works in the trailer with Mary and Tammy registering and checking out bidders. For her full time work, Diane is a long time employee of the School City of Hobart.
Billie Rucker: Billie Rucker is a long time clerk for Kraft Auction Service. No matter how fast Jonathan sells or how many lots are at the sale, she always gets it right. Like Mary, Billie is a favorite amongst regular bidders because she always has a smile on her face and will even put a smiley face on your ticket if you are especially nice!
Sandy Monroe: Sandy is also a long time clerk for Kraft Auction Service. She puts up with the Colonel no matter how ornery he gets. Sandy is like a family to the Kraft’s, she even has a picture of Jonathan as a kid on the shelf with her children. The Monroe family has raised rabbits as long as Conrad has, and Sandy is the superintendent of the 4-H rabbit show at the Lake County Fair.
Louie and Charlotte Meltzer: Louie and Charlotte help out at the auctions running sheets and ringing. They have been a part of the Kraft family of staff for a long time and share the Colonel’s love of rabbits. When he is not at the auction, Louie works as a janitor for the Tri-Creek School Corporation (Lowell). Louie and Charlotte’s love of animals is not limited to rabbits, be sure to check out their prize winning pigeons in August at the Lake County Fair.
Brent Lemaich: Brent is a long time family friend, ringman, and reliable buyer for Kraft Auction Services. You know you have been coming to auctions for a long time when your permanent bidder number is one! Brent spends a majority of his time maintaining his rental properties, flipping homes, and runs several antique booths at a variety of malls.
Cody and Billy Jones: Cody and Billy are twin brothers who work at Kraft Auction Service running sheets, setting up sales and packing up houses. On the days they go to school, they are students at Crown Point High School. Cody and Billy are members of the Lake County 4H.
Jason Elizondo: Jason is our newest addition to the Kraft Auction Service team. He helps clean out homes, set-up auctions, clean-up after sale, and during the sales help with load out. Whatever you ask Jason to do, he will be there to help you!
Steve Wells: Often at Kraft Auction Service, we have to move crazy things, and Steve is the man for the job! No matter how big or crazy the item is, Steve always helps us find a way to get it to the sale.