Janice Elaine Plzak Craig

Janice was born Janice Elaine Plzák on December 13, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in nearby Hinsdale. She was one of six children born to Louis and Vivian (Zdrubek) Plzák, both of whom preceded her in death, along with her brothers Louis Plzák Jr. and George Plzák, and her sister Jean Glahn. She is survived by her brother, Bill Plzák, and her sister, Linda Woodbury.

Raised in a large, close-knit family in Hinsdale, Illinois, Janice was especially close to her grandfather, Frank Plzák, who lived with the family and instilled in her an early love of learning and languages. That love of Latin, French, and later Spanish would serve her well throughout her medical career, helping her connect with patients from many backgrounds. Janice went on to train at the University of Chicago, where she pursued her calling and became a pediatrician, a profession she would carry with skill, patience, and warmth for over 50 years. She practiced in private practice and served as an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Over the years, she touched the lives of countless children and families who came under her care, offering not only her medical expertise but a steadfast compassion that made her a trusted presence in their lives.

Janice was married to Willie Ivy (Bill) Craig on June 13, 1962, and together they built a life and a family that remained her greatest joy. Bill preceded her in death, and though they were parted, the love they built together lived on in the family they raised.

Above all, Janice treasured people, her husband, her children and their families, and their friends. They made long journeys, mostly by car, many times every year to visit, and her love for them was the quiet center of everything she did. She also found deep joy in nature, in gardens, growing things, and the beauty of the world around her, and spent many happy hours with her hands in the soil. She was a lifelong learner and writer, and later in life channeled that passion into authoring three books. Her faith was the foundation of her life, and she built a wide and close-knit network of friends through the various churches she called home over the years. She gave generously of her time and heart to her community, finding purpose in ministry and in serving others, and she carried that same spirit of care into every corner of her life.

Janice's love of nature found its fullest expression at Chanson de L'eau's Wildlife Sanctuary, the 180-acre nature reserve she and Bill built together and lived on near Morning Star, Arkansas, for 30 years. She knew every native plant and animal on the land and protected them fiercely; she even purchased an adjacent 80 acres to save it from being logged and famously would not let Bill mow down the native wildflowers. It was a sanctuary in every sense, and a place where her spirit was truly at home.

Janice is survived by her four children: William James Craig, Kathleen Janice Dodd, Cheryl Lynn Garza, and Donald Patrick Craig. She was also blessed with eight grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren, two of whom preceded her in death, with one more on the way, all of whom she took great joy in getting to know personally.

Janice will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and physician, a woman whose life was shaped by care for others, whether in her professional life healing children or in her personal life nurturing her own family. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the family she leaves behind.

A service will be held in Bentonville, Arkansas, on September 24, 2026. Viewing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm with service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow the service at the Bentonville Cemetery.