Obituaries

Craig Allen Bunker, age 47, of Mackinac Island passed away unexpectedly on July 29, 2023. He was born on March 2, 1976, in Petoskey, Michigan.

Craig was a lifelong resident of Mackinac Island. After graduating from Mackinac Island Public School, he attended Olivet College earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, and was a member of Phi Alpha Pi Fraternity. He was a tremendous athlete and fierce competitor and lived life to the fullest. He loved playing all sports, but softball, basketball, and soccer were his favorites. He was also an avid University of Michigan fan and went to many UM-MSU rivalry games with his dad and friend Mike (even though he was an MSU fan. He also loved the Tigers Lions and the LA Lakers and could be heard throughout the neighborhood yelling at the TV when any of his teams were playing.

Craig was an avid outdoorsman having learned how to hunt at an early age from his grandfather, Ike in the Cedarville area and then with his father and many of his Island friends on Bois Blanc. In addition to hunting, you could find him out on the ice fishing.

Craig was a member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He also served as a 20+ year volunteer on the Mackinac Island Fire Department rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He coached both basketball and golf at Mackinac Island Public School and in recent years could be seen running the scoreboard (and sideline coaching) for his daughter’s basketball and volleyball games.

Craig was loved by all and hated by none. He will truly be missed.

Craig is survived by his daughter, Lakelyn; mother, Brenda; father, Clay Fuller; partner, Mary Patay; grandmother, Elaine Bunker; aunts and uncles, Isaac Jr. Clark, Jennifer Bunker, and Shan Nichols, Patricia, Marion Bunker, and Jay Davis; cousins, Michael and Madison Gamble, Nicholas and Vincent Davis, Marie Bunker and Melissa, Joe, Kylee, and Ally Meehan, and Lakelyn's mother, Holly DeZwaan.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Isaac Bunker, Sr., and uncles, Mike Gamble and Scott Fuller.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for any donations to go to the Mackinac Island Firefighters Association, PO Box 122, Mackinac Island, MI 49757.