Arthur C. Cragoe

1927 - 2018

Arthur C. Cragoe 1927 - 2018
Springfield, IL—Arthur C. Cragoe, 90, of Springfield, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2018 at Concordia Village, with his beloved wife of 67 years, Louise, at his side.
Art was born July 19, 1927 in Chicago, IL, the son of Dorothy (Heagle) and Claude Henry Cragoe. He married Louise Miller on November 4, 1950 at the First Congregational Church in South Milwaukee, WI.
Art grew up in Oakfield, WI. He spent his summers in Green Bay, WI with his maternal grandparents, where he developed a love of horses that was with him all his life. Art graduated from Oakfield High School in Oakfield, WI. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945, where he worked on cryptography and code breaking. He also taught American GI's math in Japan. He received his bachelor's degree in Math from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin in 1949.
Art worked from 1950 to 1961 in Des Moines, IA as an actuary at the Equitable Life Insurance Company. In 1961, Art took a job in Springfield, IL at the Franklin Life Insurance Company, where he was actuarial senior vice-president. He and Louise moved to Lake Springfield and he instilled his love of the lake in his four children, and eventually his grandchildren, spending time with them skiing, sailing, fishing, and ice skating.
After retirement in 1992, Art wanted to contribute his time and expertise to the world. He became a volunteer with the International Executive Service Corps. He helped establish insurance business practices and regulations, and set-up insurance companies. Art's first overseas volunteer experience prior to IESC was to Russia and Belarus as the only actuary in the first People to People insurance delegation. He gave papers and visited with life insurance companies in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In Minsk, Belarus, he helped a university establish life insurance marketing courses. Art's further assignments were with IESC. In 1993, he traveled to Sri Lanka for a 3-month assignment and was invited back in 1998 for the 10th anniversary of the company he had been advising since 1993. He also returned to Sri Lanka in 2002. Other assignments included Samara, Russia; Cairo, Egypt; Novgorod Russia; Accra, Ghana, West Africa; and Rwanda, East Africa. Art was grateful to be able to help Third World countries. He was awarded the "President's Award" in the Society of Actuaries for his work abroad as a volunteer for the IESC.
Art was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder. In his retirement, he volunteered for Memorial Medical Center, and for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Graham Elementary After School Program, and Kemmerer Village. He wintered in Scottsdale, AZ, where he was an active member of the condo association.
Art was a kind, intelligent and humble man with a strong sense of caring for his family and had an abiding love for his wife.
He is survived by his wife, Louise of Springfield; sons, Doug of West Hollywood, CA and Paul (S. Kathy) of Springfield; daughters, Cathy (friend, Tony Leone) Cragoe of Springfield and Mary (Dan) Sutter of Hayward, CA; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sister, Carol (Don) Brasure of New York.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the care Art received at the Concordia Care Center.
Art willed his body to the Anatomical Gift Association of Chicago.
Memorials may be made to: American Heart Association, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Memorial and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut St., Springfield, IL 62704, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Memorial Ceremony: 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the Concordia Village Chapel, 4101 W. Iles, Springfield.
The family of Arthur C. Cragoe is being served by Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 South Grand Ave West, Springfield.
Please visit boardmansmith.com to offer your condolences.