Obituary

Craig R. Cox, age 48, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 26th, 2016 at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, embraced by his loving family. A brain aneurism abruptly stopped his adventure on this earth, but his adventure continues elsewhere. Born April 28, 1968 to Charles and Anne Cox in Provo, Utah. He served an LDS mission in Detroit, Michigan, attended the University of Utah and was a proud member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Craig married his wife of 20 years, Joni Jacobsen, and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1994 where they started their life together. They had two sons, Walker and Blake, who were his pride and joy. Craig owned American Eagle Forest Products with partner and friend Coleman “Sully” Sullivan. Craig loved and celebrated life and his passion was contagious. He was an avid golfer and loved his golf buddies from across the country, especially his brothers and those he played with regularly at the Olympia Fields Country Club. He was an outdoor enthusiast – skiing, cycling, snowmobiling, rock climbing and scuba diving, and loved traveling and high adventure trips with family and friends. Craig had an incredible knack of making friends wherever he went and would drop anything for any one of them, regardless of whether they just met at the coffee shop, were his fraternity brothers from years ago or his close family friends. Most of all, Craig loved his sons. He created life long, indelible memories with them playing, wrestling, skiing, fishing, golfing, traveling and attending Gen-Con. Walker, Blake and his love for life are his lasting legacies.
Craig is survived by his sons, Craig Walker Cox (15) and Blake Hamilton Cox (13), former wife, Joni Jacobsen, his brothers Charles (Shauna) and Richard (Yvette), and his dear nieces and nephews (Matt, Justin, Rachel, Ali, Austin and McKenna). He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles M. and Anne Cox. A memorial service and celebration of Craig’s life will be held on Friday, June 3rd at the Olympia Fields Country Club. The service will begin at 12:00 noon followed by a celebration luncheon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gift of Hope (www.giftofhope.org) where his organs were gifted to others in need.