Tuesday, August 5th, 2025
Craig Klopfleisch
Craig Klopfleisch aged 76, died on August 3, 2025 of lung cancer. He was born March 24, 1949, in Celina, Ohio to the late Carl and Odessa (Duncan) Klopfleisch.
He is survived by his wife, Kay Klopfleisch. Craig and Kay (Schweizer) Davis were married on March 3, 2002 at St. John Lutheran Church in Celina. Also surviving are children and their spouses: Thomas (Allison) Cole, Savannah, GA; Julie (Tony) Fleck, Celina; Brian (Martha) Davis, Findlay, OH; Jennifer (Matt) Hayes, Cincinnati, OH; and Matthew (Kate) Davis, New Concord, OH; and nine grandchildren: Katie Cole, Edinburgh Scotland; Caroline Cole, Chicago, IL; Maddie and T.J. Fleck, Celina; Noah "Drew", Brennan, Anna, and Autumn Davis, Findlay, OH; and Kammy Hayes, Cincinnati.
He is also survived by his brother, Kim (Mary Ann) Klopfleisch of rural New Knoxville, OH as well as nephews, Gabe (Valerie) Orick, Vacaville, CA; and Zachary (Monica) Klopfleisch, St. Paul Park MN; and great nieces: Ainsley and Mila Orick; and Olivia and Ophelia Klopfleisch.
Craig graduated from Celina Senior High School in 1967, Capital University in 1971, and the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) with a Master's of International Management in 1977. Craig had a career in sales, management, and marketing in San Francisco, CA; Tulsa, OK; and Royston, GA, before returning to Celina and purchasing The Antiquity House (later renamed The Ashley House) interior design and furniture business. He started Ashley Art and Framing and eventually sold those businesses and changed focus to investing in commercial and residential rental real estate as the Acanthus Group and later The KECO Group LLC.
Craig was very involved in Celina and Mercer County serving on the Chamber of Commerce, the Mercer County Community Improvement Corporation, and Our Home Board. He was a member of the Celina Rotary Club, as well as other civic organizations. He served as Mayor of Celina from 1995 to 2000; taught business classes at Wright State Lake Campus; and consulted with area businesses. From 2015 to 2025 he was a member of the Mercer County Board of Elections and was a member of the Mercer County Democratic Central Committee for many years.
A lifelong Lutheran and member of St. John Lutheran Church, Craig sang in the choir and played in the bell choir. He also served as Congregational President; Chairman of the Building Committee during the construction of the Family Life Center; Chairman of the Organ Committee during the design, acquisition, and addition of the new Bunn-Minnick pipe organ; and as Vice President and Chair of the Northwest Ohio Synod Council of the ELCA representing 185 Lutheran Congregations in Northwestern Ohio.
Craig's varied interests and accomplishments included singing with the Lima Symphony Orchestra Chorus; sailing on San Francisco Bay and on the Chesapeake; obtaining a private pilot's license and flying to the Bahamas and as far west as Texas and Wyoming and many places in between; and scuba diving in the Bahamas and US Virgin Islands. While enchanted with the many exotic and beautiful places he visited in his life, perhaps his greatest joy came from camping trips with his children and with Kay and his grandchildren and riding many rails-to-trails bike paths around the Midwest, in France, and Australia.
A concerned environmentalist, Craig was an early-adopter of hybrid automobiles and solar panels, and an advocate for increasing urban tree canopies.
Visitation hours will be from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Cisco Funeral Home in Celina.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at St John Lutheran Church in Celina, with Rev. Rita Bair officiating. The family also will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family at Mercer Memory Gardens in Celina.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, or to honor Craig's commitment to the community, the family suggests donations to a local charity of the donor's choice.
The Klopfleisch family extends their heartfelt thanks for the support and care shown during this difficult time. To share memories or express condolences, please visit www.ciscofuneralhome.com or the Cisco Funeral Home Facebook page.
Cisco Funeral Homes of Celina & St. Marys are honored to serve the Klopfleisch family.
