Name: Swan-Law Funeral Directors
Address: Colorado Springs, CO

The Col was my Wing Commander when I was a student pilot at Vance AFB.  I remember he was bigger than life and I wanted to be just like him in my Air Force career.

I just found out the Crusher passed away. He was a true friend to me and to Vance Air Force Base and the Enid, OK community while I served as President and CEO of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. I remember vividly having lunch with him on several occasions, none as interesting as before my check ride in his airplane.  What a wild ride it was but one of the thrill's of my life.  Crusher will be missed but he is now at home in a place he loved...the wild blue yonder.


Crusher was, quite literally, the reason I became the pilot I was. He will always have my gratitude and respect. My prayers are with you all.

I was an instructor pilot in the T-38 in Del Rio Texas (Circa late 80s) when "Crusher" was the base commander. His daughter actually babysat our children. Crusher and I flew many times together on cross countries. Sure, he was a Colonel, but he was always that young Lieutenant in the jet. He had a knack for communicating with Airman through General and was the ultimate straight shooter. In my 20 years in the Air Force, I never met a man with more integrity, character, warrior spirit and love than Crusher. Please accept my deepest condolences. Me, I will miss such great men among us and God just picked up another great fighter pilot to guard the skies of heaven above. 
God loves fighter pilots!!!  Crusher was 1 in 10 million.   
Lt Colonel Constantine Tzavaras, USAF (ret)
Captain, Southwest Airlines 

Dear Todd and family, my heart and prayers go out to you.  Please accept my deepest sympathy.  

Blue skies and tailwinds, Don.  Will miss your infectious smile and great sense of humor.  Fondest memories of early our AF years in Colorado Springs — and all the mischief we created.  Will miss you my friend and fellow aviator.  Godspeed. 

I last saw Don in Dayton many years ago! RIP brother! ‘66 Blood That Sticks!

What can words say to express our feelings for the loss of a wonderful man.  Not just as an Air Force Officer but as a Man, a Husband,a Father and just as a person who shared what he had with others. We first met  Major Donald F. Craigie and his wonderful wife when they took our Daughter into their home to live until she found a place of her own. While our Daughter was staying at their home in  the Black hills of Colorado, we were invited to come for a visit from San Antonio,Texas. We were received very warmly and treated like part of his family.  Our Daughter always talked about him,  and his wife taught our Daughter how to cook and bake wonderful foods. God Bless Donald Craigie and receive him with open arms in Heaven.

Kay, 
Janie and I did not cross roads with you and Don much in the last 54 years , just a couple of reunions. The first 28 years we spent in different parts of the USAF - then we settled in different parts of our great country. Don helped make the 22nd Squadron a "class" act - and - he served his country very well in lots of different ways. We hope you and your family find comfort from the Lord in this time of grief.
Dale & Janie Fowler

The Buckley AFB military Retiree Activities Office (RAO) would like to offer our sincere condolences and our gratitude for Col Craigie's 28 years of service to our country in the Air Force.  If you would like help with any matters related to casualty assistance, Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), etc you can contact our office on Buckley AFB at 720-847-6693.  The RAO is staffed by volunteers, all military retirees themselves, and our sole purpose is to provide assistance to any military retirees and surviving spouses/family members with anything related to their military service and/or benefits, in particular during difficult times such as this.  We are deeply sorry for your loss.

Steve Young
Lt Col, USAF, Ret
Director, Buckley AFB RAO

I had the privilege of rooming with Don during a semester of our sophomore year at the Air Force Academy.  Don was a wonderful roommate, he always set a great example, and his leadership, good nature, and kindness made him well liked by all.  While that semester was well over 50 years ago, I still vividly remember that he was head over heels about the beautiful young woman he was dating.  Her name was Kay.  Kay, our prayers are with you and your family.  Sid & Sandra Wise

Don, Crusher as we all knew him was one of those people who when you met him you knew he was of the highest caliber of humankind. He was smart, generous, honest, a family man and a patriot and so much more. Crusher, go rest high on that mountain and give our love to Jesus. Our prayers, thoughts and love to Kay and family. 

Our condolences to Kay and family; you are in our hearts and prayers during this time.  The Haertling Family shares many wonderful memories from the time we were neighbors in Ohio. You could not ask for better neighbors; Don and Kay were always there to help in any way they could.  I especially remember when The Great Blizzard of 1978 hit Ohio for 3 days. Don and Kay drove 20 miles in their 4 wheel drive Jeep to make sure we were okay.  This is the type people they were. Don wrote an amazing introductory letter for our son, and he was accepted at the Air Force Academy.  I regret we haven’t kept in touch as the years have passed; we are deeply saddened by the loss of Don.

The Fisher family offers our condolences to the Cragie family. There will be a great hole at church for us. We will miss Don's hearty welcome and handshake. There won't be anyone for Steve to jokingly offer firewood to anymore. We share in your grief and pray the God of comfort and strength carries you through this difficult time.

Kay, I'm sure you recall how close Don and I were at USAFA. I  very much regret that I have not stayed in touch. I just want to express my love and prayers for you and Don. I would love to reconnect with you some day. My family and I are in the Seattle area, although Meg has also joined the LORD on April 7, this year. I pray we can reconnect. God bless you and your family. I will miss Don too.

I had the privilege of being Don's roommate not once, not twice, but either three or four semesters at USAFA. NO better friend have I had and Don was certainly a blessing as my roommate. I now regret that we have not stayed connected  in the last couple of decades, but I will never forget the privilege I had to share a room with Don for many semesters. I did get to know Kay. And I do offer my prayers of support for Kay and your family as you deal with the loss of Don. Yet I know we will all be rejoined with Don and the LORD when our time arrived. I pray the LORD will bless the Craigie family.

I offer my deepest condolences to the Craigie family and their close friends during this difficult time.  Col Donald "Crusher" Craigie was a hero and he will be missed.

I first met his son, Todd, while we were stationed in Alaska.  He forced me out of the cubicle to learn the proper way to fish and fill the freezer.  Since then, I've been unsuccessful in finding the limit to Todd's family's hospitality and kindness.  

Fast forward 7 years to when I finally had the privilege of meeting Crusher, and spending a week chasing elk with him and Todd in the wilderness of Colorado...it then became crystal clear where the Craigie hospitality my family had benefited from for so many years had originated.  

Crusher opened his home and his arms to me as though I'd been a regular for years.  He gave me a comfortable place to stay, excellent meals, taught me a few lessons along the way, and incidentally re-stoked a passion for Alaska by introducing me to "Gold Rush: Alaska".  That was just one week - and there was no way I could have reciprocated or fully repaid.  In response, I became more committed to extending the same openness and welcome to as many as possible.  So, whether he knew it or not, Crusher Craigie reaffirmed in me one of the greatest lessons anyone can learn - that it's better to give than to receive.


Also, in lieu of flowers please make donations in Don’s honor to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or South Pacific Christian Fellowship, PO Box 62911, Colorado Springs, CO 80962. 

OBITUARIO

Donald F. Craigie

2 septiembre, 1944 – 22 julio, 2020

Swan-Law Funeral Directors

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