Craig Hiscott

Craig Hiscott was a wonderful husband, a loving father, and a compassionate grandfather. He loved everyone selflessly and unconditionally. To know Craig was to know a man of true integrity who kept his word and never held a grudge. His warm personality and wonderful sense of humor will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew and loved him.

The 1940s were characterized by WWII. Much of this decade was spent in a battle for a way of life that the country and western powers had spent two centuries building. Some of the most significant inventions that would impact lives for many years to come were created during this time period including the Transistor and the Mobile Phone. Merlin and Belva (Massie) Hiscott were delighted when their newborn son, Craig Gerald, arrived on October 26, 1946, in Granite City, Illinois. He was born along with his twin brother, Keith, who later died at the age of three months.

Growing up in Granite City, Craig lived a typical childhood of the time. He was an avid athlete and enjoyed playing baseball, football, and basketball. Although talented at all three, he was a natural outfielder in baseball and was strongly pursued by the pros. During his adolescent years, he worked as a pinsetter at the local bowling alley. While driving home from work at 2 am, he was struck by a drunk driver. Although the police on the scene were familiar with the driver, they recognized from Craig’s identification that he was the son of a circuit court judge and that changed the fate of the at-fault driver.

Graduating with the Class of 1964, from Granite City High, he set off for the all-male Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. Ambitious as well as studious, Craig majored in sociology and minored in religion. He was also an active member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. Many of his summers he spent working as a clerk for his father. Later he joined the United States Army Reserves hoping to enroll in ROTC. After college, he left the reserves to enlist in the Air Force.

Not to be forgotten however was the meeting of Virginia Yoder, the woman he met while returning to college for a fraternity dance! Originally set up on a blind date, the two of them hit it off right from the start! At the time he was stationed in Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri which expedited their plans to marry the following year. June 5, 1971, was the date of their romantic ceremony in Lakewood, Ohio. The newlywed groom returned to the Air Force and was stationed in Vietnam as an MP for a year before finishing up his enlistment at Dyess AFB in Texas. Once he was discharged, they moved to Pentwater to begin their lives together. Together they raised three wonderful children; Kendra, Keith, and Kyle, as well as a foster son, Arnell.

As a father, Craig took his role as a provider seriously. He accepted a position as a loan officer at Household Finance. Later, he transferred to Old Kent Bank in Grand Rapids. His career was laced with many friendships over the years with clients and co-workers as well as family vacations. They loved to visit the beautiful shores of Pentwater to fish and enjoy both the inland lakes as well as Lake Michigan. Many summers, Craig would commute to work straight from the cottage! Later, he took his experience in the banking industry to a position with the City of Grand Rapids Water Department where he worked for a remarkable thirty years before retiring. He was proud of his years of service there and the wonderful sense of security the job provided over the years.

Even during his busy years as a father and provider, Craig also enjoyed many favorite pastimes. He was a member of the Masons for a short time and enjoyed playing on bowling and softball leagues. He loved giving back to his community by pulling the local high school band’s equipment trailer and attending local events. A lover of folk music and classic band music, he especially enjoyed the classics of the Scottville Clown Band. He and his son Keith shared a passion for fried fish and loved to head out on Wednesday evenings together for all-you-can-eat fish! Craig enjoyed his role as a grandfather and never hesitated to run out for a dozen or more of Sandy’s donuts whenever family was in town! He had an exceptional sweet tooth and a fondness for spoiling his grandkids!

Sadly, just before he retired in 2007, he tore his Achilles tendon which was the beginning of a host of other medical issues over the years. As much as things had slowed down for him, he never missed an opportunity to share time with his family and celebrate their many successes. They were his greatest sense of pride and joy! As much as he appeared tough on the outside, he was equally as soft and sensitive on the inside. Described as somewhat dramatic with a colorful vocabulary, he held a wonderful sense of humor and jokester personality to see him through life’s greatest challenges. Even as his health declined in recent months as he was in and out of hospital, yet none-the-less he held the same amount of optimism and gentleness. Craig’s physical presence cannot be replaced, yet the memories he leaves behind will surely endure forever.

Craig G. Hiscott, age 73, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away on February 17, 2020. He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 48 years; children, Kendra (Todd) Vanocker, Keith Alan (Karah Nicole) Hiscott, Kyle Gerald Hiscott and Arnell (Shawna) Smith; grandchildren, Grace Nicole, Bennet, and Elliot; and sister-in-law, Gail (James) Bodmer. The memorial service will be held at 4 PM on February 21, 2020, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Visitation will be held from 2-4 PM. Contributions in his memory may be made to American Cancer Society or Wounded Warriors Project. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to submit a favorite memory, photo, or to sign the guestbook online.