Craig Warmenhoven

Published 12:48 am Friday, December 19, 2014

1965 ~ 2014

Craig Stephen Warmenhoven of Bend, passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the age of 49. Craig fought a 15-year courageous battle with brain cancer.

After various treatments and extensive surgeries, it finally became apparent there were no further medical options. He

remained at home until his final two weeks when he was moved to a nursing facility.

Craig was born May 15, 1965 in Auburn, Washington, the third of four sons born to Paul and Jane Warmenhoven. Craig grew up playing with his brothers and neighborhood boys and boating on weekends with his family. From sixth grade into high school he delivered the morning Seattle PI and worked for J.C. Penney during the summer. He and his pastor bicycled around Mt. Rainer twice. He attended all grades in the Kent School District. He was very talented athletically playing ball sports and became kicker for the Kent Meridian High School football team, graduating in 1983. Craig chose to attend Central Washington University where he was the kicker on the Wildcat football team for four years. In recent years he was inducted into the University’s Sports Hall of Fame.

After college Craig worked for Horizon Air at the Seattle/Tacoma Terminal. While working there he met and began dating Darby Nelson, an Alaska Airlines employee. They were married June 19, 1993 in Bigfork, Montana, Darby’s hometown. Shortly after that, Craig attended flight school and earned his pilot’s license and also trained to become a flight controller, however the FAA was not hiring at the time. Craig also studied and worked in the computer programming field.

Together they enjoyed traveling to many destinations around the world. Many times a stop at an amusement park to ride on roller coasters (his true passion) was part of Craig’s trip itinerary.

He and Darby moved to Bend, Oregon in 1999 to raise their family. Craig was employed as a programmer at First Choice Computer Services. Even though Craig was sick for 15 of the 16 years they have lived in Bend, he continued to do as many things outdoors as he could. Craig loved skiing, mountain biking, hiking, golfing, coaching Eli’s Little League teams, watching Sierra’s dance recitals as well as attending Eli and Sierra’s many soccer games. The family attended the Westside Church.

Survivors include Darby, his wife of 21 years, two children, Eli and Sierra; mother, Jane Warmenhoven; brothers, Paul, David (Karen), Dana (Lesa); nieces, Amy, Hanna, Grace, Chloe; nephews, P.J., and Blake. Craig was preceded in death by his father, Paul.

Craig’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 10am at Westside Church (2051 NW Shevlin Park Road, Bend, OR 97702). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Warmenhoven Memorial Fund at Mid Oregon Credit Union.

Autumn Funerals Bend was honored to serve the family. 541-318-0842 www.autumnfunerals.net