Craig A. Bohn

Craig Alma Bohn passed away peacefully on Sunday March 23rd, listening to Beatles music, surrounded by all of his family’s love.

Craig was born on July 14th, 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Alma and Dorthy Bohn. He was the third of four children. Craig grew up on Hollywood Avenue where he formed deep friendships that have lasted throughout his lifetime, one of note being Brent Woodward.In the summer of 1964 Craig started working at Liberty Park in the concessions and ride area. After graduating from Highland High, he was told by his bishop to go and see a man at the University of Utah about a job, to get him away from the bad influences at Liberty Park. Knowing he would be attending school at the University in the fall, he figured why not, at least until he was done with school. What started out as a temporary job while attending school, turned into a career spanning over four decades.

Craig started as a part time employee in the custodial department, working for a man that would spark a friendship that would span the next 57 years and a man who would play a great role in the man he would become, by the name of Dennis Hanson. When Dennis was moved to the Motor Pool of the University, Craig seized the opportunity of becoming a full time employee. After learning from Dennis, Craig took his skills and took a position in Plant Operations. It was here Craig told himself that one day he would like to become Director of Plant Operations.

Over the next few years, Craig would marry Joyce, move to the University village and started a family. The opportunity arose and Craig and Joyce moved into the area of Sugarhouse and welcomed 4 children, Ann, Kevin, Stephanie, and Natalie, into the world from 1974 to 1982. Craig was a hands on dad that was always involved with not only his kids, but the neighborhood children as well. You could often find him out teaching kids to “watch the ball hit the bat”, running football patterns, playing night games, or loading bikes in the back of his truck to take all the available kids on rides all over the University of Utah campus.While working at the University of Utah Craig jumped at the opportunity to run the 25 second clock at the Utah Football games. Later he would learn to and run the game clock, lastly learning to run the scoreboard. Craig didn’t stop there, in November of 1980 he was nominated to the credit committee of the U First Credit Union, formerly known as the University Federal Credit Union. It was his voluntary work with the credit union that Craig met another lifelong friend, a man that would also play a significant role in his life, Phil Janovak. He ended up serving with the credit union until the end, which was a total of 44 amazing years.

In 1996, after his divorce, Craig met and later, in August of 1996, married Christine Butler in the South Jordan Temple. With this union Craig became the stepfather of Christi’s children, Jeremy and Kelli. In typical Craig fashion, he treated Jeremy and Kelli no differently than he did his own children. Helping them, guiding them, and being there for them when they needed, as he had been and continued to do for his other children.

With this union Craig and Christi realized they would need to find a home that would allow them the space they would need for their family to finish growing up and act as a home for the family that would continue to grow. They found their home in Woods Cross, Utah.

Craig was a proud member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and after serving many callings in the ward in Sugarhouse, he continued to serve in many calling in his new Woods Cross ward, doing what he does best, shining like a beacon, making friends with many of his neighbors and always being there to help whenever he could, believing service was a key part of a happy life.

After moving to Woods Cross, while still working at the University of Utah, Craig realized he would need to finish his degree that he had started so many years ago, if he wanted to in fact become the Director of Plant Operations. Having the experience of “the working world”, a better sense of focus and direction, Craig went back to school to finish his degree, with far better grades and more enjoyment, than the first time he attended classes. He did find it humbling that he would have to ask his son Kevin to assist him with his math homework, the type of math required not being his strong point. However, he not only finished his degree, but eventually was able to become the Director of Plant Operations. He always said that Randy Turpin was another person that played a significant role in his life and success that helped him accomplish this goal.

In 2013, Craig was hospitalized with a bowel blockage, which required emergency surgery. Though the surgery was a success, Craig was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma. This was a slow growing cancer and feeling like he had more to give not only to the University of Utah, but the Credit Union he was on the board of, he continued to both work and volunteer at both places respectively.

In April of 2015 Craig decided, after 47 years of service he would retire from the University of Utah, Director of Plant Operations, overseeing many, many years of growth and change at the University. Once retired, Craig, now with numerous grandchildren, decided to take his role as “grandpa” very seriously. As grandpa he would be just as involved in his grandchildren’s lives with as much love and support as he did his kids, but with the add touch of making sure that his grandkids got that extra piece of candy, or stayed up later than their parents wanted or agreed to. He would attend as many activities or sporting events that his grandkids were in, cheering them on and always giving them words of advice. Craig also realized how much fun it was to share his love of traveling with not only his kids, but his grandkids, even deciding to take a group of the older ones all by himself to the Bahamas, thinking before they went, “what am I doing”, to later having the time of his life and forging memories that none of them will ever forget. One traveling goal that Craig accomplished was seeing all 50 states in his lifetime with his son Kevin. One of his kids and grandkids favorites being any of the Hawaiian Islands that they got to visit where grandpa could ALWAYS be found having fun in the sun playing and teasing with the grandkids after attending conference sessions, ensuring that they had the time of their life. He had special relationships with all of his children and his grandchildren. They all knew that they could talk to him, trust him, and always ask for time with him when they needed someone on their side. Each one felt like they were the most important, because they were in their own way!

During Craig’s 12 years of living with cancer, he never said much about the disease or the treatment he was a part of. In August of 2024 Craig was told that his cancer’s growth was becoming concerning and they suggested that he start on chemotherapy. He was also told that we no longer had years, but months up to one year before the cancer would most likely take him. Between August and December of 2024, Craig would go twice a week for chemotherapy, but also continuing to attend monthly lunch meetings with a group of men from the friendships he forged from his days living in Sugarhouse, commonly known as “the Edgehill Lunch Bunch”. Craig also continued to attend and play a major role as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the UFirst Credit Union, working closely with another man who played a significant role in his life, Jack Buttars. In December of 2024 Craig was to take a break from his chemotherapy, his team being pleased with where things were. Sadly on March 10th, 2025, when Craig was to find out how things went over the last three months, he found out that this would be his last appointment with his cancer team that had been with him for the last 12 almost 13 years of his life. These people had come to know what many did, that they had made friends with a wonderful man, that they hated seeing him struggle the way he was.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents Alma and Dorothy, his sister Carolyn Bohn Howes, and two nieces, Megan and Kelsey Bodell.

Craig is survived by his wife Christine Butler Bohn, daughters Ann (Aaron), Kelli, Stephanie, and Natalie(Matt). Sons, Jeremy and Kevin along with nine grandchildren: Rahzel (Lexi), Austin, Brock, Maleah, Kennan, Ashlyn, Addie, Breck, and Airre, and one great grandchild, Raelle. He is also survived by his brother Carl and sister Colleen along with many nieces and nephews.

The family would also like to thank all the years of loving care he received from Dr. Ignacio Garrido and his team at the Huntsman Cancer Center, dad truly got the best. We also want to thank Huntsman at Home Hospice nurses Natalie, Mary, and Alina. He may not have liked being on hospice, but you all made him smile and helped keep him comfortable.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donating to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance or the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, both holding special places in his heart.Dad, we love you!!

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Woods Cross 1st Ward, 2064 South 800 West, Woods Cross, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, and Saturday morning 9:30-10:30 am at the church prior to services.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and this obituary page.