Arrangements made by
Busch Funeral and Crematory Services
163 Avon Belden Road
Avon Lake,
OH
44012
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www.buschfuneral.com
View Funeral Home Profile →
Tel. (440) 933-3202
caring@buschfuneral.com
Memories & Candles
Previous
“Craig lived across the street from me growing up on Dellwood Road in Avon Lake. I've remember riding bikes and building forts in the woods that is...
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1 of 35 | Posted by: Melissa Hofelzer
“Merry Christmas Buddy we all miss you and wish you were here with your bride and Your little Buddy Love you
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2 of 35 | Posted by: Mark Avon Lake, OH
“craig i am going to miss you so much, you were such an example of what it meant to be a friend,husband,father. if you taught me anything it was...
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3 of 35 | Posted by: tiller willowick, OH
“May you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Craig will always hold a special place in my heart as a young one running...
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4 of 35 | Posted by: Chery Madsen
“May you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Craig will always hold a special place in my heart as a young one running...
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”
5 of 35 | Posted by: Chery Madsen
“Casie, Mark, Ernie, Betty, Brenda, and Cindy,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time. I can't imagine the loss...
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6 of 35 | Posted by: Sharon Hosko Berea, OH
“I never got the chance to meet Craig but met Brenda when he was about 8 or so. The love and adoration she had for her little brother was amazing!...
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7 of 35 | Posted by: Bonnie Dunn
“Casie, Mark and All,
Every once in a while, God puts one of those special people down on earth to help us all. Craig was one of those special...
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”
8 of 35 | Posted by: Sue Seaberg (Amy's Mom) AZ
“Casie, Ernie, Betty and Brenda,
It has been a while since I have seen you all. I only met Casie and Craig once when they came to San Antonio. You...
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9 of 35 | Posted by: Abigail Paniagua, San Antonio, TX
“12
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10 of 35 | Posted by: John Shook
“Craig was a very kind and generous man, with a VERY strong heart. It's people like him that make our country great. CRAIG BEGREND WILL BE MISSED...
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11 of 35 | Posted by: Breda Fanning Avon Lake OH
“Casie I know this is probably the most difficult time you will go through in your life and I know in most of these letters say to have comfort but...
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12 of 35 | Posted by: First Sergeant Geoffrey Long TX
“To Mr. and Mrs. Behrend
Ernie and Betty my name is Geoffrey Long and I was your sons Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant from October 2005...
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13 of 35 | Posted by: First Sergeant Geoffrey Long
“Ernie and Betty,
My sincere sympathy. With such a loss no words can ease your grief, but please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. It...
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14 of 35 | Posted by: Jim Hastings Lodi, OH
“Oh Craig,
When you joined the Army during wartime our family was so proud of you. We were, of course, frightened as well. When you married Casie...
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15 of 35 | Posted by: Bob and Cathy Fox Avon Lake OH
“Craig was the love of my life and by far my best friend. We lived every moment of our short 5 year moment to the fulliest. He was so brave and...
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16 of 35 | Posted by: Casie Behrend
“Betty and Ernie we are so sorry for your loss, to bury a child is not the way it should be, in our family it has happened many times and it is...
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17 of 35 | Posted by: Mary Lou and Charlie Lambert OH
“Behrend Family,
I never met Craig, but I feel the loss because working with Betty I know how much he was loved and will be missed. My family will...
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18 of 35 | Posted by: Baron Family
“As Craig's family and friends all know, Craig was a special guy! He fought his battle with cancer valiantly. He was a role model for other...
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19 of 35 | Posted by: Joe Bokar Cleveland, OH
“I am so sorry for your loss. I didn't know Craig personaly but heard of his courageous fight to beat this horrendous disease. My second cousin...
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20 of 35 | Posted by: Cheryl Coffey
“The day I got to call you my brother. You were a gift from God to my family. I thank Casie with all my heart bring you into this family and I...
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21 of 35 | Posted by: Jessica Moran Avon Lake OH
“Working that day in the ICU, I watched the family from the sidelines. Giving water, Kleenex or a pat on the shoulder, I felt so helpless. But...
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22 of 35 | Posted by: Angela Richmond OH
“TO A TRUE FRIEND AND FELLOW SOLDIER, I SALUTE YOU. I CAN NOT THANK YOU AND CASIE ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR AMY AND THE KIDS WHILE I WAS...
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23 of 35 | Posted by: SSG WARBURTON KENNETH C.
“Ernie ,Iwas saddened to hear about your loss Our thought ,s and prayer,s are with you and Betty and your whole familly at this time .Please...
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24 of 35 | Posted by: Bill Ford /Nadine holm FL
“ive only met craig a few times when i was younger. it is so sad that this tragedy had to happen to such a young man who had so much to leave...
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25 of 35 | Posted by: jessica frye cleveland OH
“Casie, Mark and family, Im truely sorry for your loss. Many thoughts and prayers sent your way. It's so sad to see such a special soul taken to...
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26 of 35 | Posted by: Jessica Presutto OH
“I will always remember Craigs smile!!! He lights up a room..My heart goes out to the family, my thoughts are with you all, with all my love
lynne
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27 of 35 | Posted by: lynne whalen reno, NV
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you Casie, Mark and both families during this difficult time.
Tony & Kathy Tomanek
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28 of 35 | Posted by: Tony and Kathy Tomanek OH
“Craig,
Wow what a fight. You have taught us all so much: too just keep fighting, never give up, and above all keep smiling.
So many memories of...
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29 of 35 | Posted by: Amanda Abramovich OH
“Although, it's always a tragedy to witness the loss of a young person, none has been more tragic than the loss of Craig. All of us, and we all do...
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30 of 35 | Posted by: Connie Bosky
“Craig was such a brave solider.....and a very good friend to my son & his wife (Kenneth & Amy). I only met Craig once and that was the day...
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31 of 35 | Posted by: Linda Warburton Glendale AZ
“Ernie, Betty, and all who have been brought to this day. Craigers' was near and dear to my heart and will forever be in our prayers, as will you....
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32 of 35 | Posted by: Fred and Karen Huston
“There are no words, the loss of Craig as an honored soldier dedicated father and family man will be missed by all the people he touched in life....
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33 of 35 | Posted by: Bob and Millie Paul
“We are so sorry about your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We thank him as well as all our soldiers for...
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34 of 35 | Posted by: Linda Rink
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you Casie and little Mark-
In tears I saw you sinking,
I watched you fade away.
My heart was almost broken,...
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35 of 35 | Posted by: Dory and Daniel Hedstrom OH
Sergeant Craig Behrend, 25 of Avon Lake passed away Monday November 9, 2009 at Saint John West Shore Hospital after a 3 year courageous battle with cancer. He was born December 17, 1983 in Cleveland and he was a graduate of Avon Lake High School class of 2002. He then served in the U.S. Army for 4 and a half years, 1st Calvary Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. His battle with cancer started one week before he was ready to deploy to Iraq. He was a proud soldier honored to serve our country. He returned home after the first round of treatment and has been employed as an engineer with Dominion East Ohio Gas of Cleveland. His family described him as an avid hunter and fisherman, kindhearted, compassionate and loyal friend to many. His family was very important to him and he loved them dearly.
Mr. Behrend is survived by his wife and best friend of 5 years Casie Behrend (nee Moran); son Mark, 2 and a half years old; parents Ernie and Betty (nee Stanton) Behrend of Avon Lake; sisters Brenda Behrend of Avon Lake and Cindy Zanny (Chuck) of North Ridgeville; niece and nephew Cailey and Connor; father-in-law and mother- in- law Mark and Holly Moran of Avon Lake and sisters in law Jessie and Jackie of Avon Lake as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends may call at the Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake, Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m and Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Joseph Catholic church, 32929 Lake Rd., Avon Lake Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Elmhurst Park Cemetery, 32787 Detroit Road, Avon. Memorial contributions may be made to Craig’s Army of Hope Fund, First Federal of Lakewood.
Only the main photo has been provided by the family or the funeral home.
Craig lived across the street from me growing up on Dellwood Road in Avon Lake. I've remember riding bikes and building forts in the woods that is no longer there. One time he stole one of my dog's puppies from her and she bit him. When Ernie found out he kicked his ass back to the house. The last time that I saw Craig was when I was shopping w. my dad in Drug Mart and we found out about his cancer and that he was going to be a dad. I will miss you my friend and thank you for serving our country. Going to your wake was one of the most upseting, next to my dad's. It has put things into perspective about how I shouldn't dwell on the small things and that I shouldn't take people for granted especially my fiance Robert. You never know when they will leave us.
Posted by: Melissa Hofelzer - childhood friend Mar 07, 2010
Merry Christmas Buddy we all miss you and wish you were here with your bride and Your little Buddy Love you
Posted by: Mark Avon Lake, OH - Father in Law Dec 25, 2009
craig i am going to miss you so much, you were such an example of what it meant to be a friend,husband,father. if you taught me anything it was how to never take anything for granted. I am such a better person just from knowing you. i will never forget all the funny times we had at and out of work. from the time you stabbed me with your freaking pocket knife (you drew blood) or the time casie thought she lost her engagement ring (just watching and listning to you freak out especially after you talked to your home owners insurance). or watching you puke in the ghetto, man there are just too many to list. watching you come to work sick everyday was just inspiring and i thank you so much for showing me what is really important in life. you were just so fun to be around. i will never understand why you had to go so early but all i can do is just look forward to seeing you again later on. your death just sucked the air out of me and i am trying so hard to be more like you at home and never forget how you lived your life. you are an example to us all and i will never forget you. love you man, you will always be my brother......
tiller
Posted by: tiller willowick, OH Nov 27, 2009
May you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Craig will always hold a special place in my heart as a young one running around my house with Christopher. And may we hold pride our sons grew to serve our country with honor. May Craig fly on Angels Wings in Gods name we Pray.
Posted by: Chery Madsen Nov 20, 2009
May you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Craig will always hold a special place in my heart as a young one running around my house with Christopher. And may we hold pride our sons grew to serve our country with honor. May Craig fly on Angels Wings in Gods name we Pray.
Posted by: Chery Madsen Nov 20, 2009
Casie, Mark, Ernie, Betty, Brenda, and Cindy,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time. I can't imagine the loss you are feeling. I hope your memories of Craig will help ease the pain and get you through the coming weeks. My mom and dad wanted me to pass along their sympathy to all of you too.
Posted by: Sharon Hosko Berea, OH Nov 16, 2009
I never got the chance to meet Craig but met Brenda when he was about 8 or so. The love and adoration she had for her little brother was amazing! Through the years I heard stories of him getting married, joining the army, having a son and unfortunately getting cancer. I'm sorry I never got to meet him but I feel like I knew him anyways. He was very lucky to have such a wonderful loving and caring family. I know he will be missed and thought of often especially when you all see that little boy of his...hug him tight! My heart and prayers go out to you all.
Posted by: Bonnie Dunn Nov 15, 2009
Casie, Mark and All,
Every once in a while, God puts one of those special people down on earth to help us all. Craig was one of those special people. The kind of person that is there for a friend, to be a mentor, and yes, sometimes an auto mechanic! He was all that and more to my family. When my son-in-law deployed, it was you and Craig that stepped up to the plate to help out where ever you could. Lord knows, cars broke down, kids wanted to play baseball and oh, yes.....we especially cannot forget the HUGE PIRATE SHIP made for a 5 -6 year old to construct. And Craig was there to help that special 3 year old with patience and love ~These bonds that you have forged, could never be broken. Evidenced by all those in attendance ~ by the men in uniform that moved heaven and hell to be able to be there, by the friends and relatives, and of course there is that VERY SPECIAL DIRTY PIRATE who loves your husband so much. They say a tribute to a man's life is what he has left behind and the way he has touched others lives. Your husband was a man of honor, courage and much love. He will truly be missed!
Posted by: Sue Seaberg (Amy's Mom) Phoenix, AZ Nov 13, 2009
Casie, Ernie, Betty and Brenda,
It has been a while since I have seen you all. I only met Casie and Craig once when they came to San Antonio. You two were so full of love, life and hope. I have fond memories of all of you and am deeply saddened for your loss and hope the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead. What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. In the days to come, I will be thinking and praying for all of you to find some peace. You have been touched by something beautiful, and I know because of Craig, we have all changed for the better and will never be the same. Much love. Abby
Posted by: Abigail Paniagua, San Antonio, TX Nov 13, 2009
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Posted by: John Shook Nov 13, 2009
Visitation:
November 12 2009
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
November 13 2009
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Busch Funeral Home
163 Avon Belden Rd.
Avon Lake, OH 44012
Mass of Christian Burial:
November 14 2009
9:30 AM to 10:15 AM
St. Joseph Church
32929 Lake Rd.
Avon Lake, OH 44012
Interment:
November 14 2009
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Elmhurst Park Cemetery
32787 Detroit Rd.
Avon, OH 44011


