Obituary for Kenneth Craig
Ken Craig
If they are lucky, most people get to meet their heroes once. Maybe twice. I’m the luckiest of all — I was raised by mine. My hero, Ken Craig, passed away peacefully on January 27th surrounded by those he loved after a multi-year battle with a rare blood cancer.
A farm boy, Ken was born in Lestock, Saskatchewan to Alvin and Helen Craig, and raised on a farm outside Kandahar, SK. Although he lived in Saskatchewan for just the first 19 years of his life, Ken never forgot where he came from and loved a golden field of grain and bled Rider green until his very last day.
But he needed a life of adventure. After helping build the Diefenbaker Dam, Ken joined the RCMP. Soon after arriving at his first posting in Surrey, BC, Ken found his favorite spot in the world – next to Lynn.
They had a love story for the ages.
Ken became Ken and Lynn on August 29, 1969. Over the next 51 years they adventured together throughout their postings in the Canadian north (the Yukon was the favorite and not just because I was born there), many places around Manitoba and around the world. Deeply patriotic Canadians, their favorite other place was Portugal.
When Lynn was stricken by ALS, Ken would not let anyone else care for her. His place was by her side – always. That is what he will be remembered for – being an effusive fountain of love and fiercely protective of those he loved.
He was what you would expect from a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police– brave and strong – having nearly lost his life in the line duty while in Fort Good Hope, NWT — and a towering presence but the thing that folks always remarked upon was that such a giant could be so kind and gentle. Being a girl dad was one of his favorite things.
Throughout his life, Ken made lifelong friends and turned them family. He was that guy. You just liked him. Whether it was on the ice, playing hockey (ok, not everyone liked him there), coaching little girls in softball or driving a school bus in retirement, people gravitated towards him. While I was growing up, even though he had me, he never ceased to have a crowd of my friends in tow.
It was because he was who he was. He wasn’t too stubborn to change what he thought after a good argument, but the fiber of who he was never changed. He was quick to a hearty laugh, generous with hugs and followed his unfailing moral compass. He always helped those in need, whether they be a neighbor or some little bratty kid trying to tie her skates (again, me). He was simply a great man.
I have lost one of my best friends and my dad. Those who knew him and were fortunate to have him as part of their lives, have lost a best friend, adopted dad and grandpa, role model, neighbor, and mentor. But he is back in his favorite place – beside Lynn.
Ken Craig is survived by his daughter Stephanie, her partner Todd Grant, his chosen daughter Louise Helbig, his chosen grandchildren Madison, Madison’s partner Nick, Zac, and Jenna. His two regrets are not getting to watch Madison walk down the aisle or see Jenna in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band at the University of Colorado.
He was so fortunate to have the best neighbors in the Amiraults, Browns and Ciulla, and an incredible number of close friends both locally and around the world, who cannot be named for fear of missing somebody. We would all like to thank Dr. Brett Houston for being the very best of people and doctors; the amazing staff at CancerCare at HSC and CancerCare and Outpatient Department at Selkirk Hospital; and the kind and gentle staff at Stonewall Homecare. I’m sure they will miss his unfailing smile and donut deliveries, too.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to CancerCare Manitoba in Ken’s name if you are in Canada. If you are in the United States, please help finish Ken and Lynn’s pursuit of ending ALS by donating to I Am ALS.
If they are lucky, most people get to meet their heroes once. Maybe twice. I’m the luckiest of all — I was raised by mine. My hero, Ken Craig, passed away peacefully on January 27th surrounded by those he loved after a multi-year battle with a rare blood cancer.
A farm boy, Ken was born in Lestock, Saskatchewan to Alvin and Helen Craig, and raised on a farm outside Kandahar, SK. Although he lived in Saskatchewan for just the first 19 years of his life, Ken never forgot where he came from and loved a golden field of grain and bled Rider green until his very last day.
But he needed a life of adventure. After helping build the Diefenbaker Dam, Ken joined the RCMP. Soon after arriving at his first posting in Surrey, BC, Ken found his favorite spot in the world – next to Lynn.
They had a love story for the ages.
Ken became Ken and Lynn on August 29, 1969. Over the next 51 years they adventured together throughout their postings in the Canadian north (the Yukon was the favorite and not just because I was born there), many places around Manitoba and around the world. Deeply patriotic Canadians, their favorite other place was Portugal.
When Lynn was stricken by ALS, Ken would not let anyone else care for her. His place was by her side – always. That is what he will be remembered for – being an effusive fountain of love and fiercely protective of those he loved.
He was what you would expect from a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police– brave and strong – having nearly lost his life in the line duty while in Fort Good Hope, NWT — and a towering presence but the thing that folks always remarked upon was that such a giant could be so kind and gentle. Being a girl dad was one of his favorite things.
Throughout his life, Ken made lifelong friends and turned them family. He was that guy. You just liked him. Whether it was on the ice, playing hockey (ok, not everyone liked him there), coaching little girls in softball or driving a school bus in retirement, people gravitated towards him. While I was growing up, even though he had me, he never ceased to have a crowd of my friends in tow.
It was because he was who he was. He wasn’t too stubborn to change what he thought after a good argument, but the fiber of who he was never changed. He was quick to a hearty laugh, generous with hugs and followed his unfailing moral compass. He always helped those in need, whether they be a neighbor or some little bratty kid trying to tie her skates (again, me). He was simply a great man.
I have lost one of my best friends and my dad. Those who knew him and were fortunate to have him as part of their lives, have lost a best friend, adopted dad and grandpa, role model, neighbor, and mentor. But he is back in his favorite place – beside Lynn.
Ken Craig is survived by his daughter Stephanie, her partner Todd Grant, his chosen daughter Louise Helbig, his chosen grandchildren Madison, Madison’s partner Nick, Zac, and Jenna. His two regrets are not getting to watch Madison walk down the aisle or see Jenna in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band at the University of Colorado.
He was so fortunate to have the best neighbors in the Amiraults, Browns and Ciulla, and an incredible number of close friends both locally and around the world, who cannot be named for fear of missing somebody. We would all like to thank Dr. Brett Houston for being the very best of people and doctors; the amazing staff at CancerCare at HSC and CancerCare and Outpatient Department at Selkirk Hospital; and the kind and gentle staff at Stonewall Homecare. I’m sure they will miss his unfailing smile and donut deliveries, too.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to CancerCare Manitoba in Ken’s name if you are in Canada. If you are in the United States, please help finish Ken and Lynn’s pursuit of ending ALS by donating to I Am ALS.