Mark Craff

MARK STEVEN CRAFF

Edwardsville, Ill.

Mark Steven Craff, 53, of Edwardsville, Ill., died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in

St. Louis, Mo.

He was born in Fairfield, Iowa, on Sept. 28, 1966, to LeRoy Andrew and Catherine Louise Kleemeyer Craff. Mark grew up near Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1985. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and served as a military policeman for four years. After he was discharged from the service, he worked as a sheriff's deputy until he received a tailbone injury and then he was a security officer for over 15 years. He has been a forklift driver for the past 10 years. Mark married Iris M. Abrams. They later divorced. He had a deep love for astronomy.

Mark is survived by his daughters, Deborah Jean Catherine Craff Lilljequist and husband Miles of Bangor, Maine, and Elizabeth Jane Catherine Craff of Edwardsville; his father, LeRoy of Germanville; and his fiancee, Audrey Kosina; and his brother, Paul Craff and wife Heather of Mason City.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Hope Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ryan Dexter officiating. Burial will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery. No visitation is planned. Memorials for the American Astronomical Society may be left at the church or mailed to the family at Deborah Lilljequist, 73 Pine Street, Apt 1, Bangor, ME 04401.

Gould Funeral Home of Brighton is in charge of arrangements.