Craig Porter, 58, Lake Mills

Published 9:15 am Monday, June 17, 2013

Craig Allen Porter, 58, of Lake Mills, died Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont after a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with the Rev. David E. Jordon officiating.

Craig Porter

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St., Lake Mills, and again one hour prior to the service at the church.

Cremation will take place after the funeral service and inurnment will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Craig’s family suggests that memorials be given to the Winnebago County 4-H program, Winnebago County Extension Office, 183 First Ave. E, Thompson, IA, 50478.

Craig Allen Porter was born on April 24, 1955, in Seminole, Texas, to Stuart and Eva (Holstad) Porter. He was baptized in Hobbs, N.M., and was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1973. Following graduation from high school he attended the diesel mechanics program at the Albert Lea Vocational Technical Institute. During this time he also began working at Larson Manufacturing in Lake Mills and was employed there until December 2010 when he was forced to retire due to ill health.

Craig was united in marriage to Gail Hoffmann on Oct. 25, 1986, at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa. To this union two children were born, Caitlin and Nathan.

Craig was a man of many talents and interests. He was a 4-H leader in the Winnebago County Shooting Sports and Lego Robotics programs. He had a passion for history; especially the Civil War era. Traveling with the Lake Mills eighth-grade class to Washington, D.C., in April 2012 was a dream come true. Perseverance was a character trait Craig exemplified by achieving his black belt in Taekwondo in November 2010.

Craig is survived by his wife, Gail Hoffmann-Porter of Lake Mills; his children, Caitlin and Nathan Porter, of Lake Mills; mother, Eva Haroldson and stepfather, Milton Haroldson, of Glenville; mother-in-law, Sharon Hoffmann of Lake Mills; sister, Cathy (Steve Bonine) Porter of Albert Lea; brother, Dennis Porter of Albert Lea; brother, David (Jean) Porter of Aztec, N.M.; half-sister, Lori (Porter) Groat of Spokane, Wash.; sister-in-law, Jean (David) Porter of Aztec; brothers-in-law, Mark (Ilene) Hoffmann of Nevada, Iowa, Paul (Kim) Hoffmann of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Gary (Kathy) Hoffmann of Mason City; godchildren, Sandy (Nobles) Sortland of Rapid City, S.D., and Daniel Nobles of Box Elder, S.D.; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Craig was preceded in death by his father, Stuart Porter; maternal grandparents, John and Edith Holstad; paternal grandparents, Frank and Anna Porter; step-grandparents, Arman and Gladys Haroldson; father-in-law, Donald Hoffmann; and his best friend, Daniel Mittag.

To contact the family with online condolences visit www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com or call 641-592-0221.