Dorothy L. Craig, 94, died Friday, July 6, 2012, at Heritage Manor in Elroy.
She was born July 26, 1917, in Bloomington, Ill., to George and Oma (Childers) Baker. In 1926, she was baptized in the EUB Church of Bloomington, Ill. After graduating from Bloomington High School, Dorothy attended the Chicago Evangelistic Institute in Chicago.
On July 25, 1942, in Chicago, she was united in marriage to Rev. Kennieth H. Craig. As a homemaker, Dorothy had a remarkable thirst for learning and developed delightful skills in cooking, canning and baking. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, ceramics, painting (tole, rosemaling, and oils), and herb patio gardening. Together with Kenny, they established a tradition of hand-kneaded fudge on a marble slab that has extended three generations, to the grandchildren.
Kennieth and Dorothy served in American Baptist churches in Page, N.D.; Bonesteel/Fairfax, S.D.; Augusta, Wis.; Winneconne/Omro, Wis.; Ontario, Wis.; and at the Indian Baptist Church in Wisconsin Dells. She served on numerous committees of the American Baptist state conventions in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. She lived out a personal faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Dorothy is survived by three sons, David (Sharon) Craig of Duluth, Minn., Frederick (Mert) Craig of Port Charlotte, Fla., and James (Yvonne) Craig of Richland Center, Wis.; seven grandchildren, Stephanie (Jeffrey) Ruesch of Cottage Grove, Wis., Sonya (Clark) Sprague of Bozeman, Mont., Kevin Craig (Kelly Foss) of Duluth, Minn., Nicklaus (Valerie) Craig of Green Bay, Wis., Krystal (Paul) Dubois of Green Bay, Wis., Jared (Julia) Craig of Mount Wolf, Penn., and Justin Craig of Richland Center, Wis.; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Carita Seaney of Pearl, Miss.; and a sister-in-law, Joy Baker of Lexington, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kennieth; her parents; her four brothers, Eddis, Herschel, Marlon and Dellus Baker; and a sister, Nina Pate.
A funeral service will be at 12 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, at Grace Community Church, Ontario. Pastor Bruce Milleman will officiate. Burial will be in Hilltop Cemetery in Ontario.
Relatives and friends are invited for a visitation Wednesday at Grace Community Church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Following the graveside service, a luncheon will be held in the Grace Community Church fellowship hall.
The family requests that memorials be made to Grace Community Church in Dorothy’s name.
The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home, Wilton, is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
