Dr. Dirk Bowman Craft

Apr 29, 1952 -

Jun 9, 2023

Dr. Dirk Bowman Craft, 71, passed away in Providence Hospital from his battle with erythroleukemia, in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 9, 2023.

There will be a service for Dirk at Evergreen Memorial Chapel on Sunday, June 18, 2023, beginning at 1 p.m. Governor Mike Dunleavy will be officiating. His ashes will be scattered across Alaska.

He was born to parents Beverly Craft and W. Staley in Visalia, Calif., on April 29, 1952.

Dirk graduated with a B.S. in biology from Luther College and from the College of Osteopathic Medical School. He completed his internship and internal medicine residency in Colorado before being transferred to Alaska. Dirk was in private practice from 1988 until his medical retirement in 2015.

He met the love of his life in Aurora, Colo. They were married at the courthouse in Aurora during their lunch hour on April 29, 1980.

Dirk was awarded the Golden Heart in Fairbanks, Alaska, from the Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and affiliated with the Alaska Republican Party.

He loved everything Alaska: hunting, fishing and camping, especially in Seward. Dirk was an excellent physician well-respected by his peers. He loved his children, bonus children and grandkids. He would do anything to help others.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Beverly Craft; father, W. Staley; in-laws, John and Juanita Harrison; brother, Curtis Craft; sister-in-law, Novella Bollinger; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bonstetter.

He is survived by his loving wife, Paula Harrison of Anchorage; son, Dirk Craft II of Anchorage; daughter, Alex Craft (Matt Greely) of New Jersey; bonus daughter, Danielle Benzing (Joe) and their children James and Selha of Wasilla, Alaska; bonus daughter, Novella Bigham and her daughter Amelia Bigham of Texas; bonus grandchildren, Alexandra, Maddy, Elliott and Regan, all of Wyoming; dogs, Olivia and Abe, and service dog, Hank, all of Anchorage.

The research and treatment that allowed him to spend and additional eight years with his loved ones is a cause very close to our hearts. In lieu of flowers, the family would love and appreciate donations to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. There is no expectation or obligation, but if you want to and if you can: https://give.wakehealth.edu/site/Donation2?df_id=1560&1560.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T. In the drop-down menu, scroll down to the bottom and choose "Write In" to donate in Dirk's honor. In the comment section, write "In Honor of Dirk Craft for Dr. Wieduwilt's research."