Gale Craig Hoogendoorn

The family of Gale Craig Hoogendoorn, Kalamazoo Central Class of 1965, has received news from Shanghai, China that he passed away peacefully April 12, 2010 from lung cancer at the age of 63. His family is comforted in their sudden and unfathomable loss by the compassionate care Craig received from his Chinese doctors, nurses and colleagues in the last weeks of his life. Who could have imagined in 1965 the free-spirited, tall, lanky kid with the big ears, modest grades and senior year attendance punctuated by afternoons at the Burdick Hotel Pool Hall would return after 4 years in the United States Marine Corp, including a tour of duty in Vietnam and member of the Honor Guard assigned to Richard Nixon's Presidential Inauguration, to pursue his education at Western Michigan University graduating with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education/administration along with a collection of unpaid parking tickets. During the second half of his shortened life Gale Craig would become the consummate teacher, school principal, ambassador and endearing mentor to a generation of young people at American schools in Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia and China where the young students affectionately called him "Mr. H." Except for a one time dispute over a girl in high school Gale Craig's only enemy was the one he never met on the battlefield in Vietnam. Had they met they surely would have been found sitting together at the edge of a rice patty with a makeshift card table playing poker and blackjack for cigarettes. For a guy who'd use local coach's names to attend WMU athletic events it would come as no surprise Craig once used his Honduran documents to travel to Cuba a country off limits to American travelers. After being detained his first day by suspicious custom officials Craig spent the week acquainting himself to the Cuban people who treated their tall, blond hair Honduran guest who spoke fluent English with genuine kindness and hospitality. For those who befriended and loved Gale Craig during his lifetime he will be remembered often and in fondness for his wit, intellect, bravado, love of books and competition whether on the slow pitch softball field, golf course, bowling alley, or in a card game or at a casino which were not unlike the cigar smoke filled "Strand" Card Hall his grandfather would take him at age 6-7 for hot chocolate and donuts. Craig is survived by his mother Margaret, brother David, daughter Margot, grandson Jack, son-in-law Eryk, former wife Vicki, nephews David and Dustin and their families, many cousins and several aunts and uncles on his father's side. Rest well Sgt. Hoogendoorn and may you find eternal peace in God's love and grace. Private burial services will take place at 1:30 PM Friday, May 14, 2010 at Fort Custer National Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 15 from 10-11 AM at Langeland Family Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, MI where a memorial service will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by a get-together of family and friends to celebrate Craig's life at Mulligan's Grill and Sports Bar, 9136 Shaver Road, Portage, MI. Memorials in Craig's memory may be directed to a charity of your choice. Please visit www.langelands.com for online guestbook, sharing a memory and condolences for the family.