Jack Lee Craven, 75, of Arnold, Maryland, left us after a six-year bout with cancers on February 8, 2018 at his home. Jack was a special person who, even though he was suffering for years, went out of his way to help other people. Everyone who met him was touched by his kindness. He was born October 30, 1943 in Kalispell, Montana to Kathleen Freer and Jack Lloyd Craven, a WWLL pilot. His education included college at Montana State and three Masters degrees in chemistry, education and economics at universities including Montana, Michigan State and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Jack and Leone Rynders of Milwaukee, Wisconsin were married October 20, 1981.

Jack worked over 40 years for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and Department of Interior, serving in Alaska, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., where he achieved Senior Executive Status. He regularly met with Congressman and met President and Mrs. Clinton at an award ceremony lauding his work in Lands. His primary duties included purchasing large tracts of land to preserve elk herds, preserving the fresh water supply for San Juan, Puerto Rico and other vital watersheds and forests from development. Among them; the purchase of the Baca Ranch in New Mexico was the largest tract of land purchased in Forest Service history, which helped preserve the headwaters of the Santa Clara creek.

But his true passions were fishing and birding. He used to rise before dawn to fish for 25 lb. salmon on Lake Michigan, and later ocean fish miles off Ocean City, Maryland. Biggest fish caught was a 42 lb., 47 ½" striped bass. He was an active member of Maryland Saltwater Fishing Assoc., providing artificial reefs for fish habitat. A memorable trip to Costa Rica for the wildlife brought close encounters with Howler and Capuchin monkeys, iguanas, giant sloth, crocodile and scarlet macaws. He was a Life Master in bridge, once playing with actor Omar Sharif. He loved to golf with friends. Whenever he had the chance he went skiing in Montana.

He is survived by wife of 37 years, Leone, daughters Dustin Craven, Kurstin Craven, son-in-law Bruce McAllister, grandson, Carter McAllister, siblings Larry Foy and Joyce Wilson, cousins Jim Freer and Marge Zacherson, niece Lauren Maersch, nephew Nicholas Maersch, in-laws Leona Rynders, Priscilla and Bryan Maersch, Greg and Charlene Rynders, Mary Rynders and Greg Horbachevsky, Georgia and Jim Woycke, many fishing, racquetball and work friends, good neighbors, cats Obi and Leia.

A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 14, from 4-5pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD, 21146, where a memorial service will begin at 5pm, after the visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org


Online condolences may me made on www.barrancofuneralhome.com