Robert C. Craig, Jr.

Robert Craig Jr., was born in Clay Center, Kansas, on February 10, 1951, to loving parents JoAnn (Cousins) Craig and Robert Craig, Sr., and died on July 11, 2023 at the age of 72 in Republic County, Kansas. Before he was 4, he, along with his parents and twin sisters moved to the farm south of Talmo, Kansas. At this early age, he acquired his first horse, a pony named Spot. This union created a horseman out of Bobby that he cherished for the rest of his life. He attended country school in Talmo by riding a horse to school daily. He attended Jr. High in Agenda, and then moved onto Hillcrest High School, graduating in 1969.

At an early age Bobby learned to throw a rope and continued to use this ability for the rest of his life. He loved calf roping, a good calf horse, and competition. He participated in Kansas High School rodeos, along with open rodeos, throughout his teen years.  At the Kansas State High School Rodeo in 1967, Bobby was the Champion Calf Roper.

Bobby had an outstanding sports career while in high school, participating in track and football, winning many races and scoring many touchdowns. His running took him to state track meets, and he set school records that stood for several years after high school. His ability and love for the game of football landed him on many league and state rosters.

After high school Bobby continued his rodeo career in calf roping and team roping, giving him lifelong friends. He was blessed by God to have an affinity for training horses that was acknowledged and respected.  He was proud of the fact that he was the one who broke and trained the AQHA Hall of Fame stallion, Two-Eyed Jack; a horse that has had a lasting impact on the Quarter Horse breed.  Bobby was also influenced and taught by great horsemen like Mitch Fectinier and he, in turn taught and influenced many others in the rodeo and horse industry.

On May 27, 1971, Bobby entered into the Army, stationed at Fort Ord, California. This took him many miles from Kansas, with time at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He was later honorably discharged back to the Kansas Army National Guard to complete his six year obligation. While in the service he was awarded two sharpshooter badges with his M-16 rifle.

Bobby built and maintained his small feed yard on the family farm, along with farming with his Dad until the disaster agriculture year of 1982. Bobby married Rebecca Jean Strnad on September 29, 1984, in Munden, Kansas. The following February, Bobby and Becky moved to Ingalls, Kansas, where Bobby managed Loewen Feeders.

From Loewen Feeders he moved onto Winter Feed yard, then eventually to DM&M Feed yard in Cimarron, Kansas, where he found a home for his wife and two children, Robert Craig III born in 1989 and Charlsie JoAnn born in 1992.

Bobby loved getting up early and reading bunks, facing the challenges Dan Miller presented daily. In May of 2003, Bobby moved his family back to Scandia, Kansas, where he managed Premium Feeds until his retirement in 2019. Premium Feeders presented its own challenges for Bobby that included, surviving a large tornado, building an ethanol plant, and the flooding of the Republican River in 2015.

Bobby enjoyed evenings at the family arena, teaching his kids about horsemanship. Dustin (Nothern) entered Bobby’s family when Dustin was 14, and this addition was a blessing to the family. 

Bobby Craig lived a life full of hard work, fat cattle, fine horses, fast competition, great horseman, good friends, and close family.

Bobby was preceded in death by his father, Robert Craig Sr., stepfather, friend, and role-model Tom Walker, brother-in-law Robert Pugh, and nephew Cass Reynolds.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca (Strnad) Craig of their home in Munden, son Robert Craig III of Atkinson, Nebraska; daughter Charlsie (Craig) McKay and her husband Turner of Culleoka, Tenn., Dustin Nothern and his wife Jessica of Ingalls, Kansas; granddaughter Levy JoAnn McKay, grandsons Keegan & Langston Nothern. He is also survived by his mother, JoAnn (Cousins) Craig Walker of Talmo, sister Kathy (Craig) Pugh of Belleville, sister Pam (Craig) Reynolds and her husband Nick of Cuba; sister Marsha (Craig) Nelson and her husband Mike of Smolan, KS; numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.

Memorial Services will be Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the Zion Evangelical Church, 402 S. Main Street, Munden, Kansas. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Zion Cemetery, rural Talmo, Kansas. Following the cemetery services, the family invites everyone to the Munden Community Center, 110 S. Main Street, for a luncheon and fellowship.

The family will greet friends on Monday, July 24th, starting at 5:30 p.m, at the Zion Evangelical Church in Munden.

Friends may also sign Robert's book on Monday, July 24th, from 9am - 4pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville.

Memorials are requested to the Zion Evangelical Church or the Kansas High School Rodeo Association, and may be sent in care of Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home is assisting Bobby’s family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com