Charles “Charlie” John Craigs

On his 88th birthday, Charles “Charlie” Craigs peacefully passed away surrounded by his loving family. Born in Cleveland to the late Walter and Dorothy (nee: Hassellbush) Craigs, August 16, 1930. He has been a resident of Put in Bay Township for almost 50 years.
Chuck was a family man who loved fishing, baseball, and nature. He and Carole met at a DeMolay-Rainbow function when he was 14 and she was 13 years old and they’ve been together ever since. With their three children, they camped and boated with their favorite spot being Put-in-Bay. When they bought land on the island, Chuck left his job as a Stereotypist at the Cleveland Press and went to work as a builder for Fred Wilhelm and then Craig Eriksen. After eight years of retirement and traveling, Chuck went to work at the new PIB Butterfly House, where he became known as “The Butterfly Guy” and worked until the day he was life-flighted off the island.
Chuck read poetry to his children most nights when they were young, taught his grandchildren all about birds and seashells, and his great-grandchildren all about butterflies. Throughout the years, Chuck did countless stitcheries and helped design the quilts Carole sewed. He loved to dance to waltzes with his wife. Chuck and Carole could be spotted most Mondays fishing on their boat “The Pitcher” at their favorite spot off of Rattlesnake.
Chuck loved baseball, the Cleveland Indians and rooted for The OSU Buckeyes. He played softball throughout his years, pitching for the Round House and Island Graphics. For the last 16 years, he was the Boardwalk team’s biggest fan. Chuck was a two-time Past Master of Ellsworth Lodge.
Survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Carole (nee: Nass); his children Linda (Kendall) Brown, Laura (Hartman) Kirchner, and Chuck Craigs; his grandchildren Eric (Kate) Kirchner, Liesl (Max) Glover, Ryan (Nicole) Kirchner, Josh (Anna) Brown, Sarah (Rob) Hutsler, and Emily Craigs; his greatgrandchildren Autumn Hutsler, Sebastian and Benjamin Kirchner, Lorelai Hutsler, and Matthias Glover. He also leaves his in-laws and lifelong friends, Howard and Elaine Martens, his niece Donna Martens and great-nephew Johnny Martens. He was preceded in death by his parents and his nephew, Johnny Martens. Private family services were held. The family requests donations made to Empty Bowles by the Lake, 683 Jockeys Circle, Avon Lake, OH 44012.