Craig A. Varland

Craig A. Varland, 69, formerly of Marseilles, IL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at his home in Oak Creek, WI, following a long battle with cancer. Born on October 20, 1954, in Ottawa, IL, Craig was the son of Clifford L. and Doris (Repka) Varland. He attended Rutland Grade School, where he was a proud Wildcat. Growing up, his father was his hero, and Craig eagerly followed him wherever he went. He cherished living and working on the Brumbach family farm, which remained his most beloved place to be throughout his life. Craig graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1972, where he played basketball all four years. He then earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1976. For 40 years, he worked as an Environmental Scientist, primarily with Stantec Consulting, a career that allowed him to visit 48 states. In the last ﬁve years, Craig was employed at Fox River Resort in Sheridan, IL. Craig was known for his great sense of humor and his love for The Andy Griﬃth Show and The Three Stooges. He was enthusiastic about riding his 1992 Harley Davidson Fatboy, camping, and learning about dinosaurs. Among his favorite hobbies were collecting rocks and minerals and building model kits of dinosaurs and classic monsters. He took pride in growing organic heirloom pumpkins and maintaining his beautiful ﬂower gardens. Craig is survived by his wife of 34 years, Renee Varland, whom he lovingly called his “one and only”; two daughters, Kendra (Sean) O’Connell, Sun Prairie, WI, and Tori (Anthony) Hohenstein, Madison, WI; one son, Camron Varland, Oak Creek, WI; two grandchildren, Elsa and Ronan O’Connell, Sun Prairie, WI; one sister, Alice Wold; and one brother, Mark L. (Darcy) Varland, both of Ottawa, IL; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family extends their gratitude to Craig’s grade school and high school friends, his friend Chris Armes, and his buddies from the Fox River Resort, for their kindness and support in his time of need. Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated Thursday, August 29 at 10:00 AM at the BASILICA OF ST. JOSAPHAT, 601 W. Lincoln Ave. Interment and Committal Service will be held at 3:00 PM at Brumbach Cemetery, 3398 N IL 71, Marseilles, IL. Rozga Funeral & Cremation Services Rozga-Walloch Chapel