- Craig honorably served our country in the United States Army 511th Military Police Company, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, NY, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served in Afghanistan from Jan. 30, 2002, until Aug. 22, 2002, and Iraq from March 10, 2003, until Feb. 26, 2004. He was a proud recipient of the Army Commendation Medal 2nd Award, Army Achievement Medal 2nd Award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge With Rifle, Badge with Bar and Driver Mechanic Badge.
|
- Craig honorably served our country in the United States Army 511th Military Police Company, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, NY, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served in Afghanistan from Jan. 30, 2002, until Aug. 22, 2002, and Iraq from March 10, 2003, until Feb. 26, 2004. He was a proud recipient of the Army Commendation Medal 2nd Award, Army Achievement Medal 2nd Award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge With Rifle, Badge with Bar and Driver Mechanic Badge.
|
- Craig A. Birkholz, 28, of Fond du Lac, died on Sunday, March 20, 2011, in the line of duty.
Born in Kenosha on April 5, 1982, he was the son of William and Gay Anne (Esser) Birkholz. He attended local schools and was a 2000 graduate of Tremper High School. While at Tremper, Craig was a member of the Kenosha Police Explorer Scouts. He graduated Cum laude from U.W. Oshkosh with a degree in Criminal Justice.
From Aug. 14, 2000, until his honorable discharge on Aug. 13, 2005, Craig honorably served our country in the United States Army 511th Military Police Company, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, NY, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served in Afghanistan from Jan. 30, 2002, until Aug. 22, 2002, and Iraq from March 10, 2003, until Feb. 26, 2004. He was a proud recipient of the Army Commendation Medal 2nd Award, Army Achievement Medal 2nd Award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge With Rifle, Badge with Bar and Driver Mechanic Badge.
On Sept. 19, 2009, at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, he was united in marriage to Ashley Czarnowski.
In 2008, Craig was hired by The City of Fond du Lac as a Police Officer where he proudly served until Sunday.
He was a member of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association and a life member of the V.F.W. Junker-Ball Post #1865.
Craig took great pride in serving his country in the Army and his community as a police officer. Craig's loves in life were his wife, his family, his duty as a police officer and the Green Bay Packers.
He is survived by his wife, Ashley; parents, William and Gay Anne Birkholz; a brother, Paul Birkholz; his mother and father-in-law, Rick and Maryann Czarnowski; his paternal grandmother, Rose Birkholz; maternal grandmother, Marcella "Sally" Esser, grandfather-in-law, William Funk, Jr., and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at 7 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 271 Fourth Street Way (Hwy. 151 & County Rd. T) Fond du Lac. A visitation will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church from 3 p.m. until the time of the service.
Craig's remains will return to Kenosha to lie in state on Friday after 4 p.m. at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7117 14th Avenue. Interment with military and law enforcement honors will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the Craig Birkholz memorial fund has been established at U.S. Bank.
Funeral Home Information
Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home
3720 39th Avenue
Kenosha, Wisconsin 53144
262-658-4101
Online Condolences at www.piasecki-althaus.com
|
1982 - 2011 (28 years)
Military Service
