John Richard Craig, passed away on January 4, 2026, at the age of 77. Born on July 7, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana, John lived a life filled with dedication to his family, his country, and his community.
John was a proud Vietnam Veteran, having served in the United States Army for 11 years. He was a graduate of Fair Park High School, class of 1965, and went on to retire after a distinguished 35-year career working for the US government in Human Resources.
On January 14, 1983, John married Gerlinde Schaefer in Germany, where they shared a loving and devoted marriage for 43 years. The couple lived in Germany before returning to Shreveport, Louisiana, in September of 2008 to be closer to his family.
John was a sweet and loving brother to Lynn Craig (Carol), Bill Craig (Tracy), and Kathy Craig Ross. He was a devoted stepson to Daniel Schaefer and a stepdaughter to Miriam Schaefer. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard James Craig Jr., and his mother, Carrie M. Hanna.
John had a deep love for the outdoors, enjoying fishing, hunting, and outdoor sports. He cherished spending time at the camp on Lake Bistineau, where he took his father's boat out on the lake, creating many treasured memories with his family.
A memorial service will be held at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Chapel, located at 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71108, on January 23, 2026, at 9:00 am. A graveside service will follow at 10:30 am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Rd, Keithville, LA 71047.
His legacy as a devoted husband, family man, and someone who had a good heart and cared about others will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the COPD Foundation at https://www.copdfoundation.org/.
