CRAIG ROBERT “CHIEF” HAYNES, SR.
68, of Cass City died following a brief illness Saturday, September 10, 2022 in his home. He was born September 19, 1953 in Detroit to Robert Clarence and Dolores Norma (Coy) Haynes. He married Rhonda Jean Fleming on December 29, 1972 in Garden City.
Craig graduated from Franklin High School in 1971. He enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a military police officer, for three years, while stationed in Frankfort, Germany. Later, Craig then graduated from the Oakland Police Academy in 1977 and took a job as a police officer, primarily in the Detroit area, for a private railroad company for ten years. He and Rhonda moved to Cass City to raise their family and he joined the Cass City Police Department in January 1987. Craig was promoted to sergeant in 1997 and to deputy chief of police in 2001. During his years in the Thumb area, Chief Haynes served the local police department in a variety of capacities, including as a patrol officer and investigator. For six years, from 1992 to 1998, he served as the local D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer at the former Cass City Middle School. In 1990, the Thumb Narcotics Unit (TNU) named him Officer of the Year for his work in securing ten arrests involving drug-related activity in Cass City and surrounding areas.
Chief served the village for nearly 36 years of dedication, commitment, and concern for the Cass City community, including the past 17 years as chief. He officially retired September 5, 2022. Craig, an avid hunter and trout fisherman, enjoyed working at the Rooster Ranch in Ubly. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and was extremely proud of them.
Craig is survived by his wife, Rhonda; children: Jennifer (David) Gray of Cass City; Craig R. Haynes, Jr. (Melissa Doerr) of Cass City; grandchildren: Ethan, Zaden, Makaylah, Sophia, Adrianna; three sisters, one brother, several nieces and nephews; many very special friends that he considered family, including: Jef and Kayla Benkelman, J2 and Katrin Benkelman, Jackson and Logan. He is preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dolores (John) Fleming.
Private family service will be held. Interment with full military honors will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Memorials may be made to The Child Advocacy Center of Tuscola County. Family and friends may share memories and photos with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2022 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
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68, of Cass City died following a brief illness Saturday, September 10, 2022 in his home. He was born September 19, 1953 in Detroit to Robert Clarence and Dolores Norma (Coy) Haynes. He married Rhonda Jean Fleming on December 29, 1972 in Garden City.
Craig graduated from Franklin High School in 1971. He enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a military police officer, for three years, while stationed in Frankfort, Germany. Later, Craig then graduated from the Oakland Police Academy in 1977 and took a job as a police officer, primarily in the Detroit area, for a private railroad company for ten years. He and Rhonda moved to Cass City to raise their family and he joined the Cass City Police Department in January 1987. Craig was promoted to sergeant in 1997 and to deputy chief of police in 2001. During his years in the Thumb area, Chief Haynes served the local police department in a variety of capacities, including as a patrol officer and investigator. For six years, from 1992 to 1998, he served as the local D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer at the former Cass City Middle School. In 1990, the Thumb Narcotics Unit (TNU) named him Officer of the Year for his work in securing ten arrests involving drug-related activity in Cass City and surrounding areas.
Chief served the village for nearly 36 years of dedication, commitment, and concern for the Cass City community, including the past 17 years as chief. He officially retired September 5, 2022. Craig, an avid hunter and trout fisherman, enjoyed working at the Rooster Ranch in Ubly. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and was extremely proud of them.
Craig is survived by his wife, Rhonda; children: Jennifer (David) Gray of Cass City; Craig R. Haynes, Jr. (Melissa Doerr) of Cass City; grandchildren: Ethan, Zaden, Makaylah, Sophia, Adrianna; three sisters, one brother, several nieces and nephews; many very special friends that he considered family, including: Jef and Kayla Benkelman, J2 and Katrin Benkelman, Jackson and Logan. He is preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dolores (John) Fleming.
Private family service will be held. Interment with full military honors will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Memorials may be made to The Child Advocacy Center of Tuscola County. Family and friends may share memories and photos with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2022 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
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