Joe D. Craig

Joe’s Journey

Joe was raised in Oklahoma City, OK. He played football in high school, after that took up karate then it wasn’t long before he volunteered to serve in the Marine Corp just before the Vietnam War. 

He met the love of his life, Bettie Sue Wehmeyer, while he was stationed in Kansas City, MO at a bar that was known to be the local hot spot where all the flight attendants would hang out after work. It was love at first sight (for him, Bettie, took a bit more convincing). But it wasn’t long until he won over Bettie’s heart and they were married. They had their first daughter, Cheryl, when they were in their early 20’s and living in Kansas City, MO. 

After the Vietnam War, he was released from the Marine Corp, Joe took up flippin’ hamburgers at the local McDonald’s and quickly worked his way into management. Shortly thereafter he and his family packed up to move to Woodridge, IL so he could be closer to McDonald’s headquarters in Oakbrook, IL. After moving to Woodridge, they had their second daughter, Marsha. And a couple of years later, their youngest, Sharon, was born. 

After about 15 years at McDonald’s, Joe left and joined with his friends Bob Vidor, Daryl Otto, John Thomas and Dennis Wolfe to create a new company, Medical Imaging Systems. 

Unfortunately a few years later the company closed. A few months later his wife passed away suddenly. He and his youngest girls moved in with his oldest daughter until he could get back on his feet.  

He became a bit of a nomad after that, bouncing around from job to job and moving around a lot both within Illinois and then later to Utah and Michigan. Always in search of his next big business venture. 

Unfortunately, in 2010, at the young age of 61  he had a mild heart attack that caused him to black out momentarily while he was walking and then he hit his head on a cement step. He was in a coma for over a month but eventually woke up but not without severe cognitive and physical impairment.

He spent the last 10 years fighting various illnesses and moving in and out of assisted living and nursing home facilities. Last month he suffered a severe heart attack but was making what seemed to be a good recovery. 

Then on Sunday he was found unresponsive in his bed during a routine check up. It is assumed he went peacefully in his sleep.