Craig L. Johanesen

1945 - 2018

Craig L. Johanesen

Stoughton - Craig L. Johanesen, age 73, of Stoughton, passed away on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at Agrace HospiceCare. He was born on Jan. 29, 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and became the son of Leif and Carol (Reykdal) Johanesen in March 1945. He met his loving partner, Betty Socha, in 1985, and has been her dearest friend, colleague, and companion. Craig graduated from Clintonville High School in 1963, received a B.S. in Political Science in 1969, from UW-Stevens Point, and an M.S. in Resource Management from UW-Madison in 1972. He worked at the Great Lakes Planning Commission, the Wis. Dept. of Economic Development, at three environmental consulting firms in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and most recently at the company he founded and owned, Craig Environmental. He focused on solid waste management, site remediation, and property transaction due diligence. He retired in the Fall of 2017. Craig was a member of the National Solid Waste Management Association (NSWMA), Waste Tech Advisory Steering Committee, and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). He was also a member of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association and the steward of the family tree farm near Cloverleaf Lakes in Shawano County.

Craig enjoyed historic house restoration, antique guns, wooden boats, genealogy, his business trips to Hayward, Wis., glacier study trips with Betty to Alaska and geology research with her in Wisconsin. He loved flying, as a pilot and a passenger in seat 2A. Amsterdam was his special city. Craig was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015, and made every effort to enjoy life as long as possible. In September he reunited with close friends from high school, the "Magnificent Seven", and made a final trip to Talkeetna, Alaska, to meet with friends there, and where he had flown float and ski planes since 2008. In November he hunted on his land by Cloverleaf Lakes and got his deer early opening morning.

Craig is survived by his partner, Betty Socha and her family, Jane and Hank Bronowicz; Carey and Chad Bernt, Mandy Dalhke and Eddie Hrdina, Peyton and Preston Dahlke and Kannon Hrdina. He is also survived by cousins; and his sister's children, Carol Kellerman, Heather Johnson and John Beyersdorf. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Gale Beyersdorf. Per Craig's request, no funeral services will be held. A celebration of his life will be arranged at a later time. Memorials may be made to Clintonville Area Historical Society or the ASPCA. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.