From today’s Huber Heights (Ohio) Courier:
Wenner leaves lasting impact on Carriage Hill
By Greg Smart, editor
The death of Craig Wenner has stunned residents of Huber Heights.
It is estimated that over 500 people attended a memorial service for Craig and his wife Patricia Sunday at Grace Brethren Church in Brookville.
Mike Ivory, President of the Huber Heights Rotary Club, eulogized Craig.
“The motto of Rotary International is ‘Service Above Self” and Craig exemplified this more than anyone I know,” said Ivory.
Ivory talked about Craig’s community involvement and said Craig was instrumental in the planning and building of a picnic shelter construcgted at Rip Rap Park in Huber Heights by the Rotary Club. Ivory said the Huber Rotary Club has agreed to officially name the shelter, “Craig and Patricia Memorial Shelter” with a dedication planned sometime this spring.
“One of my personal memories of Craig is that he was always smiling; he always had an upbeat attitude that seemed to radiate to everyone he touched,” said Ivory.
Ivory said Craig always appeared to have a glow about him when he talked of nature and his family.
Another person that knew Craig well is Carriage Hill and Taylorsville MetroParks Park Manager Mark Davis.
“He was the consumate park person,” said Davis in an interview Tuesday “He lived and breathed park work.”
Davis said that whenever Wenner returned from vacations, that he would bring back photos of park designs and other park ideas he observed.
“He was also a consumate public servant,” said Davis. “The final question before doing something was what does the public get out of this. He made sure every expenditure was to the direct benefit of the public. He really lived that.”
Davis indicated that Wenner was an outstanding father of two daughters and was very proud of their accomplishments.
Davis said Wenner was in charge of the building of the Carriage Hill Visitors Center.
“At that time, that was the largest building project that MetroParks had ever done. It was just his cup of tea.
“He loved looking over plans and pointing out something that needed to be changed. He loved working with the contractors. That was great experience for his current position where he was Special Projects Manager for MetroParks.
A few days before Wenner died, Davis said he received an e-mail from him.
‘He told me how excited he was that he’d been assigned a new project–a bikeway project,” recalled Davis.
Wenner’s character was notable.
“The one thing that was universal–Craig was always smiling,” said Davis. “I never saw him lose his temper. He was the most even keeled guy I ever met.”
Davis said Wenner’s legacy in Huber would be the Carriage Hill Visitor’s Center and the training of future managers.
“I have to complement MetroParks as a whole and all MetroParks staff for their dedication to the search,” said Davis. He also praised the water search and rescue crews.”
Maude Lawson, who manages the Country Store at Carriage Hill Farm, was devastated by the loss.
“I lost part of my family–I have my family and then my park family. It’s just hard to describe. He was just very near and dear.”
Lawson said Davis’ legacy would be the Visitor’s Center at Carriage Hill and his love for the Rotary
Trust Fund set up for Wenner Family
A trust fund has been set up for the daughters of Craig and Patricia Wenner who drowned on Christmas Day in the Stillwater River.
To give, write a check to Carolyn and Sara Wenner College Fund and mail to Montgomery County Credit Union, 409 E. Monument Ave., Suite 105, Dayton, OH 45402.
