Craig Allen Baird |
| Posted 2016-04-02 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, March 30, 2016, page 5a Craig Allan Baird April 9, 1953 - March 26, 2016 Craig Allan Baird was born on April 9, 1953, to parents Donald and Mary Baird in Harvard, Illinois. He passed away peacefully on March 26, 2016, with his family with him in his favorite room in the house. Craig was the middle child of three who grew up in a small dairy town in Illinois. His mother Mary ran Baird’s Restaurant in downtown Harvard where he worked with his brother Dick, his sister Jean and his aunts. Sports have always been a major part of his life; starting with backyard baseball with his brother, to high school athletics, city league ball and then for leisure. Throughout his childhood, he was exposed to Ernie and the Cubs, along with music and the arts in his many trips to Chicago with his Uncle Howard. This fostered a great love for The Cubbies and the arts that he passed on to his family. Craig moved in to Arizona in 1973 where he earned his bachelor degree in Elementary Education. He was an inspirational teacher, who touched many lives in both Phoenix and the Prescott area for 33 years. He retired in 2008, which allowed him to focus on what he really loved: family time, writing letters/poetry, reading, playing tennis, walking the courthouse, socializing with friends and daily crossword puzzles, gardening and traveling with his wife Debbie. Craig will always be remembered for his devotion to his family, his sense of humor, his sensitivity and his overall love for life. He is survived by his wife Debbie Kuhnke; his sons Andrew (Brittany), Eamon, Dillon and Seth Kuhnke (Ashley); daughter Kelcie Kuhnke; his sister Jean Barnes (Roy); his sister-in-law Esther; his grandchildren Noe and Daisy; his wife from a previous marriage Katie; and his mother-in-law Phyllis Reddel. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at the American Lutheran Church, 1085 Scott Drive in Prescott, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family will set up a fund to support Prescott Little League. Donations can be made to the City of Prescott Parks and Recreation and given to the family. Information provided by survivors. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?