Craig William Funk

Craig William Funk, beloved husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, mentor, and friend, passed away surrounded by family on June 16, 2026, at the age of 76, after a seven year battle with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare form of lymphoma.

Born on November 20, 1949, in Lake City, Minnesota, Craig's life was defined by resilience, humility, and an unwavering devotion to family. After losing his father, Milton Herman Funk, to leukemia at the age of seven and overcoming a devastating childhood farm accident that permanently changed the use of his dominant arm, Craig developed a quiet determination that would guide him throughout his life. Rather than allowing adversity to define him, he spent the next seven decades creating opportunities for others and building a legacy measured not by what he accumulated, but by the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the family he nurtured.

Craig grew up in Hammond, Minnesota, a small town where life revolved around family, faith, hard work, and community. He loved the outdoors from an early age, spending his childhood hunting and fishing with family, riding his horse Sugar, swimming in the Zumbro River and local gravel pits, and enjoying the simple pleasures of small town life. The values he learned there stayed with him throughout his life. He graduated from Lourdes Catholic High School in Rochester, Minnesota in 1967 and earned a degree in Psychology from Saint Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota in 1971.

While attending Saint Mary's, Craig met the love of his life, Christine Maureen Carroll. They were married on November 18, 1972, beginning a partnership that would span more than fifty three years. In those early years, they worked incredibly hard to build a life together. Craig traveled extensively as a young salesman while Christine often worked multiple jobs. Money was tight, but life was full. They enjoyed spending time with friends, watching movies, sailing on Lake Superior, taking canoe trips in Minnesota, traveling when they could, and raising, breeding, and showing Boxer dogs together. Many of their closest friendships grew from relationships Craig built through work. Those early years laid the foundation for the family, traditions, and life they would ultimately create together.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Craig founded Arlington Industries in 1972 and International Toner Corporation in 1981, building both into respected leaders within the imaging supplies industry. Yet those closest to him knew that business success was never the ultimate goal. He took pride in creating opportunities for others, mentoring employees, and building organizations where loyalty, trust, and hard work mattered. He treated every person, from warehouse employee to executive, with the same dignity and respect, creating a culture that reflected the values by which he lived. His daughter Alex spent much of her career working alongside him, while his son Zac left a successful career to join the family business and work side by side with his father for more than a decade. For Craig, business was never simply about building companies. It was about building people.

Despite the demands of entrepreneurship, Craig remained devoted to his family. Many evenings followed a familiar pattern: a full day of work, coaching baseball or basketball, dinner with family, and then a return to the office late into the night. His children learned far more from what he did than what he said. He was a man of action whose example taught integrity, accountability, perseverance, responsibility, and the importance of showing up for the people who depend on you.

Though he was known as a successful businessman, Craig's greatest joy came from relationships. He was easy to talk to, endlessly curious about others, and blessed with a warm smile and unforgettable laugh. He maintained lifelong friendships, loved spending time outdoors, enjoyed golf far more for the company than the scorecard, and never met a gathering he didn't enjoy. Friends and family alike knew that if Craig was present, there would be stories, laughter, and genuine conversation.

As much as Craig loved being a father, he found even greater joy in being a grandfather. Nothing made him happier than having his family together. Whether boating, golfing, celebrating holidays, traveling, or simply sitting around a dinner table long after the grandchildren had gone to bed, he treasured time spent with those he loved. In retirement, Craig became even more intentional about creating opportunities for family to be together. Whether sponsoring ski trips to Park City, organizing family adventures abroad, welcoming children and grandchildren to the family's Florida home, or helping establish a Lake Geneva summer home large enough for multiple generations to gather under one roof, he understood that life's greatest moments were shared. He believed families grew stronger when they spent meaningful time together, and he created places, traditions, and experiences that made that possible. The Lake Geneva home became a physical expression of what Craig spent a lifetime building: a close family connected by shared memories, enduring traditions, and a deep love for one another.

Faith was an important part of Craig's life. Though never one to speak extensively about it, he lived his beliefs through gratitude, humility, generosity, and devotion to family. Sunday Mass, family dinners, saying grace together, and evening prayers helped shape the values that guided his life and the lives of those around him. He taught through example, quietly and consistently.

Craig is survived by his beloved wife, Christine Maureen Funk; his children, Zachary (Krystal) Funk, Justin (Christina) Funk, Alexandra Funk and Philip Evans, and Jared (Alexandra) Funk; his cherished grandchildren, Tristin, Everley, Brayden, Jillian, Lyla, Austin, Brooks, Paige, Cameron, Naomi, Everett, Palmer, and Bodie; his siblings, Marcia (George) Schmidt, Kevin (Barb) Funk, Melia Schad, Jodeen Donovan, Rosanne (Mike) Mader, Veronica (Tom) Kalmes, Mark (Donna) Schad, Blaine Schad, and Brent Schad; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, colleagues, and loved ones whose lives were enriched by knowing him.

He was preceded in death by his father, Milton Herman Funk; his mother, Myrtle Margaret Knaup Funk Schad; and his brothers, Randy Funk, Steve Schad, and Richard Schad.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m.

A private family interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation.

Craig spent his life building. He built a loving marriage, successful businesses, lifelong friendships, cherished traditions, and opportunities for future generations. Most importantly, he built a family that celebrates together, mourns together, laughs together, and remains deeply connected. His life was an extraordinary success, and his legacy will continue to grow for generations to come.