Stephen (Rookie) Craig

Our beloved friend and longtime Alaskan, Stephen (Rookie) Craig 67, of Wasilla, Alaska, passed away July 4th 2023, doing one of the things he loved, canoeing on the Little Su.

Stephen was born on December 31, 1955 in Skowhegan, Maine where he grew up and went to school, playing football and skiing on the cross country ski team, graduating high school in 1974.

In 1983, after a few years of trade school, working and skiing in various ski resorts, he decided to go to Alaska, which is where he honed his skills as a carpenter. Working with wood became Rookie’s legacy. He was always creating with wood or trying out unique things from his trade books. He raised his two children, Ryan and Addie who meant the world to him and made many lifelong friends along the way. After years of great fishing trips, and taking up skiing again, Alaska truly was his home.

Rookie, a kind, thoughtful and helpful man that became part of the family from the first day you met him. He will be missed greatly by many, he was one of the good ones.

Rookie is survived by his son, Ryan Craig, daughter Addie Stone, and grandchildren Padraic Craig, Lillian Craig, Arian Woodbury, and Zoraida Woodbury, his sisters, Marcia Tobey, Cathy Craig Jacobson, Josephine Thomas and his brother Richard Picard Jr. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Marie Craig and stepfather Richard Picard Sr. and his Grandmother whom he spoke of often, Addie Savage Gilblair.

A celebration of life will be held at the Gilberts, in Wasilla, on Saturday, August 19th at 2 pm. Please call Denise Gilbert 907-354-6751, for more info. Bring a dish and some good stories.

In lieu of flowers, plant a tree in memory of Stephen (Rookie) Craig.