Craig Dean DeBoer

Craig Dean DeBoer, 65, of Prineville, OR passed away January 29, 2018 at his home  surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be held Friday February 2, 2018 at 3:00pm at the Prineville Funeral Home, 199 NE 10th St, Prineville, OR.  
Craig was born September 13, 1952 to Alvin and Esther (Himmerich) DeBoer in Platte, SD.  He grew up in Bismarck, ND. He had the coolest Beatle boots and long hair in the neighborhood. When he was 15 he moved to Winnemucca, NV to live with his father, arriving in those Beatle boots and long hair, much to the chagrin of his Nevada siblings. He traded in those boots for cowboy boots and a hat, and embraced the cowboy way of life. He graduated from Owyhee High School. After high school Craig buckerooed at various ranches in Nevada.  He also found his calling in bull riding on the high school rodeo team and on the rodeo circuits in Nevada and Oregon.
In 1975 Craig met the love of his life, Jackie Burk, at a wedding in which they were both in the bridal party.  It was love at first sight for Craig, even though she was out of his league. They married on November 13, 1976. Craig and Jackie made their home in Prineville, where Craig worked as a forklift operator at local sawmills for most of his career.  He attended welding school, and worked for awhile as a welder. He eventually went back to working in the sawmill until his health prevented him from working.  
Through the years Craig and Jackie raised cattle, and almost always named their cows after family members and friends. He was a lifelong loyal fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, even though that was frustrating most of the time.
The apple of his eye, their son Burke, was born on June 7, 1993. Craig was proud of “Cowboy” and was a doting father.  His family was the most important thing to him, and he spent countless hours solving the world’s problems with his brother Terry, and Jackie’s brothers Larry and Billy. He loved his brother-in-law so much that he gave one of his kidneys to Larry.
Craig is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jackie, Prineville; son Burke, Monmouth, OR; sisters Carol (John) McGrath, Brandon, SD, Gail (Craig) Siri, Spring Creek, NV, Tammy (Vaughn) McKnight, Idaho Falls, ID, Peggy (Les) Jones, Elko, NV; brother Mitchell DeBoer, Winnemucca, NV; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Alvin DeBoer; his mother, Esther Wrona; his brother, Terry; and his stepfather John Wrona.  
 

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