Obituary: Craig L. Lynch

January 13, 1958 – December 19, 2016

Craig L. Lynch decided on Monday, December 19, to move on and find a different fishing hole. We called him our Miracle Child. He fought a very long battle.

His last days were spent in the kitchen, perfecting large meals.  ]Then it was on to baking bread, burning cookies, and testing our taste buds with relishes and applesauce. He loved cooking and feeding people.

Craig was born in Framingham, MA on January 13, 1958.  In his youth he was involved in the National Lancers and gymnastics.  He graduated from Framingham North High School in 1976, and headed to be with his brothers in Alaska in 1977.  Reaching Fairbanks, he made a great entrance by shimmying up the boom on the Old Nenana Steamship.  He went on to live in Eagle for a while, helping to run the general store, fishing and hunting.  In 1980 he moved to Fairbanks marrying Lynn Harvey.  While living in Fairbanks, he worked at the Paint Shop and Van Gas.  After his divorce, he traveled a bit taking time to do some writing, and landing in Valdez for schooling for a Marine Vessel Captains license.  In 1989 he started his career in captaining, working with a small hunting/fishing charter business in Cordova, AK.  He then went on into commercial fishing to eventually obtain his own 40’ vessel, the Franz Joseph.

He absolutely loved Cordova, and was heartbroken to have to move to Fairbanks for medical reasons.  This summer his siblings will take him back home to the place he loved most in the Prince William Sound.

He is preceded in death by: Parents, Marie and Donald Lynch and brother, Mark Lynch.

He leaves behind brothers Dana (Lori) Lynch, Shane Lynch & Lance Lynch; sisters Doneen Durling (John), Moira Hirt (Corky), Nadine Battles (Brian) and Angela Lynch (in-law); nieces & nephews: Joshua Lynch, Nathan Lynch, Amanda Hanson, Danielle Tessier, Arin Wolf, Brandon Simpson, Brainna Burriss, Ian Durling Logan, Megan Durling, Zach Durling, Brady Hirt, Andy Hirt, Patrick Hirt, and Brian Battles.

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The family cannot express our appreciation enough to the Cordova Clinic & Community Hospital, Anchorage Providence Hospital, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the crew at the Fresenius Dialysis Center, Dr. Dyke, Chris Lawson, Dr. Lefler and Dr. Barnes.  It has been very heartwarming for us to hear how loved he was.  Seems he touched many lives.

Letter of condolences may be sent to 5976 Chena Hot Spring Road, Fairbanks, AK, 99712. The family will wait until summer for the spreading of his ashes.

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