Jack L. Craig Sr.,76, of Enterprise passed away Thursday May 30, 2024 in Junction City, Kansas.
Jack was born August 17, 1947 in Hutchinson Kansas, the only child of Ernest F. (Pete) Craig and Clemmie Scott Craig. After Jack graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1965, he attended Hutchinson Jr. College followed by Sterling College. While at Sterling, Jack spent two years as a fill-in minister at Abbyville Baptist Church. It was at Sterling College that Jack met Barbara Harms. They were married on June 7, 1970. Jack attended Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas City. Jack then took his first charge at First Baptist Church in Chapman, Nebraska. His ordination ceremony was held November 4, 1973. Jack and Barbara began their family in Nebraska with the birth of their first child, Susan, in July 1973, and son Jack Jr. (JL) in October of 1975.On January 1 of 1978, Jack took his next charge at the First Baptist Church of Enterprise, Kansas. Jack’s youngest son, Scott, was born in Kansas on March of 1980. In addition to his time as a minister, Jack served as a substitute teacher as well as a volunteer firefighter both in Nebraska and in Dickinson County Kansas. In 1994, Jack became Sexton of Mt. Hope cemetery and served in that position until his death. In 1998, Jack retired from ministry in the Baptist Church. Jack and Barbara moved into Enterprise, and Jack then served as custodian of Enterprise Elementary school a position which he held for 19 years. In October of 2001, Jack came out of pastoral retirement and began serving the Solomon Yoked Parish where he served for 10 years.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Barbara. Jack is survived by his daughter Susan and her husband Dr. Todd Frieze of Chapman; his son JL Craig of Enterprise; his son Scott Craig and his wife Samitha of Tacoma, Washington; and grandchildren Emma and Elyssa of Chapman and Haroun and Zaara of Tacoma.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the Chapman United Methodist Church, 426 Sheeran Chapman, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, June 21, 2024 at the Chapman United Methodist Church. Inurnment will follow the funeral service at Mt. Hope Cemetery south of Enterprise.