Craig Alan Larsen

Born April 30th, 1950 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, died October 23rd, 2023 in Bath, Michigan.

Craig was a high school basketball star and member of the Ypsilanti High School State Championship basketball team of NEED YEAR . As a young man Craig was an avid photographer and developer, as well as having a love for rock climbing and hiking, being particularly proud of having climbed Mount Rainier. Despite being raised in a house of University of Michigan fans, Craig proudly attended Michigan State University and played on the Michigan State Spartans basketball team.

As proud as he was of all these achievements, his proudest and happiest moment by far was marrying the love of his life Jody in 1978. Together they have two children Robert and Kelly. Craig and Jody built their dream home in Bath, Michigan where he enjoyed gardening and yard work. Craig was a lifelong restaurant worker and made many true friends along the way. Craig retired from the restaurant industry and found true happiness and contentment in making birdhouses, cooking, and day to day life with Jody.

His greatest joy of recent years was his granddaughter Grace Kelly Ann. Grace lit up his world as his only grandchild and he loved his time picking her up from school and helping her with special projects.

Craig is preceded in death by his sister Andrea (David) Scott and parents John Andrew and Maretha La Vera (Hutcheson). Craig leaves behind his wife of 45 years Jody Larsen, daughter Kelly (Jordan Chestnut) Larsen, son Robert Larsen, sister Jill (Mike) Belekevich, brother Ted (April) Marling, mothers-in-law Nancy Culver and Mary Ann Marling, and several beloved cousins and many, many lifelong friends.

In lieu of a funeral service the family is planning to pay tribute to Craig by displaying and selling his birdhouses as he had planned at the Park Lake Creamery Fall Festival in Bath on Saturday from 1-4pm. All proceeds will go to the Craig Larsen-Grace Simpson Memorial College Fund for Craig’s granddaughter who plans to attend Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and become a third generation Spartan, just like her Papa.