Gerald Oscar 'Barney' Craig, age 90, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2017.
He was born in Plainfield to William and Anna (Carlson) Craig on July 24, 1927. He married Lois V. Bentson at Plattville Lutheran Church in Minooka November 10, 1951 and together they lived in Joliet their entire married lifetime together.
Barney was a World War II Navy Veteran. He worked for the E.J. & E. Railroad for 42 years, retiring in 1986.
Following retirement, Barney became an avid golfer. He golfed with his buddies several times a week for over 25 years. He also actively worked out at St. Joseph's Hospital following heart bypass surgery in 1995, and was riding his stationary bike and walking the driveway until a few weeks before his death.
To many in the Joliet area, he was a baseball coach – having coached his two sons through the St. Joseph Park Baseball Program in the 1960's, then watching as a proud parent/fan as they played baseball through high school and college.
Barney watched Chicago's sports teams; but was a huge Cubs fan, regularly watching over 150 games a year on TV in his retirement years – and living to see the Cubs finally win a World Series Championship. He also enjoyed an occasional trip to the riverboat casinos in Joliet.
Gerald is survived by his two sons, David (Kathy) of Fort Myers, Florida and Mark (Kim) of Shorewood; and 2 siblings: Donald (Barbara) of Plainfield and Shirley Koch of Harrison Township, Michigan. He was also a proud and loving Grandpa, and is survived by 2 grandchildren, Christopher and Hannah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lois; his parents William and Anna; 3 siblings Richard (Dick), Harold and Roger; and numerous aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Arrangements entrusted to the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, Joliet.
Burial: Plainfield Township Cemetery
He was born in Plainfield to William and Anna (Carlson) Craig on July 24, 1927. He married Lois V. Bentson at Plattville Lutheran Church in Minooka November 10, 1951 and together they lived in Joliet their entire married lifetime together.
Barney was a World War II Navy Veteran. He worked for the E.J. & E. Railroad for 42 years, retiring in 1986.
Following retirement, Barney became an avid golfer. He golfed with his buddies several times a week for over 25 years. He also actively worked out at St. Joseph's Hospital following heart bypass surgery in 1995, and was riding his stationary bike and walking the driveway until a few weeks before his death.
To many in the Joliet area, he was a baseball coach – having coached his two sons through the St. Joseph Park Baseball Program in the 1960's, then watching as a proud parent/fan as they played baseball through high school and college.
Barney watched Chicago's sports teams; but was a huge Cubs fan, regularly watching over 150 games a year on TV in his retirement years – and living to see the Cubs finally win a World Series Championship. He also enjoyed an occasional trip to the riverboat casinos in Joliet.
Gerald is survived by his two sons, David (Kathy) of Fort Myers, Florida and Mark (Kim) of Shorewood; and 2 siblings: Donald (Barbara) of Plainfield and Shirley Koch of Harrison Township, Michigan. He was also a proud and loving Grandpa, and is survived by 2 grandchildren, Christopher and Hannah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lois; his parents William and Anna; 3 siblings Richard (Dick), Harold and Roger; and numerous aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Arrangements entrusted to the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, Joliet.
Burial: Plainfield Township Cemetery
Gerald Oscar 'Barney' Craig, age 90, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2017.
He was born in Plainfield to William and Anna (Carlson) Craig on July 24, 1927. He married Lois V. Bentson at Plattville Lutheran Church in Minooka November 10, 1951 and together they lived in Joliet their entire married lifetime together.
Barney was a World War II Navy Veteran. He worked for the E.J. & E. Railroad for 42 years, retiring in 1986.
Following retirement, Barney became an avid golfer. He golfed with his buddies several times a week for over 25 years. He also actively worked out at St. Joseph's Hospital following heart bypass surgery in 1995, and was riding his stationary bike and walking the driveway until a few weeks before his death.
To many in the Joliet area, he was a baseball coach – having coached his two sons through the St. Joseph Park Baseball Program in the 1960's, then watching as a proud parent/fan as they played baseball through high school and college.
Barney watched Chicago's sports teams; but was a huge Cubs fan, regularly watching over 150 games a year on TV in his retirement years – and living to see the Cubs finally win a World Series Championship. He also enjoyed an occasional trip to the riverboat casinos in Joliet.
Gerald is survived by his two sons, David (Kathy) of Fort Myers, Florida and Mark (Kim) of Shorewood; and 2 siblings: Donald (Barbara) of Plainfield and Shirley Koch of Harrison Township, Michigan. He was also a proud and loving Grandpa, and is survived by 2 grandchildren, Christopher and Hannah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lois; his parents William and Anna; 3 siblings Richard (Dick), Harold and Roger; and numerous aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Arrangements entrusted to the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, Joliet.
Burial: Plainfield Township Cemetery
He was born in Plainfield to William and Anna (Carlson) Craig on July 24, 1927. He married Lois V. Bentson at Plattville Lutheran Church in Minooka November 10, 1951 and together they lived in Joliet their entire married lifetime together.
Barney was a World War II Navy Veteran. He worked for the E.J. & E. Railroad for 42 years, retiring in 1986.
Following retirement, Barney became an avid golfer. He golfed with his buddies several times a week for over 25 years. He also actively worked out at St. Joseph's Hospital following heart bypass surgery in 1995, and was riding his stationary bike and walking the driveway until a few weeks before his death.
To many in the Joliet area, he was a baseball coach – having coached his two sons through the St. Joseph Park Baseball Program in the 1960's, then watching as a proud parent/fan as they played baseball through high school and college.
Barney watched Chicago's sports teams; but was a huge Cubs fan, regularly watching over 150 games a year on TV in his retirement years – and living to see the Cubs finally win a World Series Championship. He also enjoyed an occasional trip to the riverboat casinos in Joliet.
Gerald is survived by his two sons, David (Kathy) of Fort Myers, Florida and Mark (Kim) of Shorewood; and 2 siblings: Donald (Barbara) of Plainfield and Shirley Koch of Harrison Township, Michigan. He was also a proud and loving Grandpa, and is survived by 2 grandchildren, Christopher and Hannah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lois; his parents William and Anna; 3 siblings Richard (Dick), Harold and Roger; and numerous aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Arrangements entrusted to the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, Joliet.
Burial: Plainfield Township Cemetery
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