Craig Freeman

October 13, 2024

 Craig Richard Freeman of Syracuse, Kansas has passed on but has left, in his absence, a life of great legacy and accomplishment. 

Born January 27, 1954, in Sioux Falls, SD, Craig was the oldestof three brothers, Todd and Laird Freeman, born to James and Marilyn Freeman. Craig married his college sweetheart, Dawn Vinding on July 9, 1977, and is the father of their three children: Julia, Dana, and Timothy. His family was his pride and joy. 

Craig met Dawn serendipitously, at a red light in her friend’s car. She jumped out of her friend’s car and into the backseat of the other car with Craig. They attended a film test screening that night and were inseparable ever since. 

Craig earned a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA at the University of Southern California Los Angeles. After years of working in the business sector, Craig earned a surprising new skillset as a Journeyman Electrician, a profession he proudly practiced, whether working on house wiring or in his bucket truck, high above street level. Craig would profess that his most important work in life was strengthening and maintaining his relationship with Jesus Christ, remaining faithful to God’s plan for him and being a loving, humble servant in all he did. Craig has cited a visit to the Holy Land in 1987 as a major highlight of his life. 

Craig was often involved in leading and attending Bible studies, including one called “The Agency,” and youth groups when his children were young. He and his wife, Dawn, also participated in prison ministry, sharing the gospel with many. He wrote to prisoners and shared the love of Christ and encouraged them in their walks with God. As a child, he played baseball and almost made it onto the professional team, the Oakland Athletics,because of his swift running ability.

Craig was an avid reader and film buff, with an ability to cite passages of the Holy Bible, and to provide perfect recall from bits of J.R.R.Tolkien, “Star Trek” and “Highlander: The Series.” Craig was passionate about physical fitness, seen frequently working out by punching a heavy sandbag, hitting the floor for various push-ups, or enduring his grueling “Dirty 30,” a stroll and push-up combination that few have survived. 

Later in life, Craig experienced newfound joy in becoming a grandfather to Gray, Jack, JoJo, Evelyn and Julia Gould (from his daughter Dana and husband Nathanael), Beatrice Wurst (from his daughter Julia and her husband Barry) and Callie and Max Freeman (from his son Timothy and his wife, Briana).

Craig is survived by his mother, Marilyn, his dear wife Dawn, his brothers, his children, and a new generation of grandchildren who were inspired by his life of hard-won faithfulness and by the many colorful memories of their “Pops.” He will be greatly missed. His graveside service will be announced at a later date. 

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight – we are of good courage, I say and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8