Craig C Robbins

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Craig Robbins, who passed away on July 25, 2026, at the age of 79.

Craig was born on November 21, 1946, in Orem, Utah, to Clyde and Iletta Robbins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jane, and his beloved wife, Maria. He is survived by his four brothers—Paul, Rand, Shane, and Chad—their spouses and families; his two daughters, Zoe and Zea; his five grandchildren, Leilani, Kapono, Solei, Zaelan, and Nelle; his great-granddaughter, Lyla; and his faithful dog, Max, who rarely left his side during the past twelve years.

From an early age, Craig embraced the outdoors and adventure. He played football and baseball, loved hunting with his father and brothers, and developed a lifelong fascination with Native American history and culture. Drafted during the Vietnam War, he served in Alaska, where he discovered a deep appreciation for solitude, rugged landscapes, and a simpler way of life.

After returning to the lower 48, Craig settled in Alma and Breckenridge, Colorado, where he began a successful career as a professional sign maker. His distinctive carved signs with hand-painted gold leaf lettering became his artistic signature. In 1975, while hanging one of his signs in Aspen, Colorado, he met his future wife, Peronelle ("Perri"). Together they sailed the Bahamas, and Craig studied sculpting under renowned sculptor Randolph Johnston. They eventually built a log home and operated a small horse ranch along the Roaring Fork River in the beautiful town of Carbondale, Colorado, where they raised their two daughters.

Craig was an artist in every sense of the word. A gifted woodworker, builder, sculptor, and craftsman, he designed and built from his own blueprints, creating works that reflected both precision and imagination. He counted celebrated artists Frank Howell and Guy Buffet among his mentors and continually sought to expand his creative talents.

Never one to stay still for long, Craig embarked on another remarkable adventure in 1987. Accompanied by a single crewman, he sailed a 40-foot trimaran from San Diego to his new home on Maui, Hawaii. He spent nearly twenty years on the island, building a career in real estate while raising his daughters, who lived with him much of that time.

In 1996, Craig married Maria Stepp. Together they owned a charming art studio and coffee shop on the west side of Maui, built a beautiful home, and traveled to Indonesia to personally select furnishings that reflected their shared appreciation for craftsmanship and design. When Maria faced multiple recurrences of breast cancer, they moved to Utah so she could receive the best possible medical care while also being closer to Craig's aging parents and daughter Zoe.

After Maria's passing in 2006, Craig continued seeking beauty and adventure. He spent several peaceful years living along the Provo River near Kamas, Utah, enjoying fishing, golfing in the summer, and skiing Deer Valley each winter with his lifelong friend, Tom. In 2016, he purchased land in Bunkerville, Nevada. True to his nature, he built a workshop and art studio before building a home. There he happily spent his days woodworking, creating art, transplanting dozens of cacti across the property, and reading the books he loved most—Westerns, spy novels, military history, and biographies.

In his later years, Craig received his medical care through the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that eventually spread to his bones and spine. After losing the ability to walk, Craig made the courageous decision to decline chemotherapy. By the grace of God, his suffering was brief. He spent his final weeks in the home of his daughter, surrounded by family, and passed away peacefully.

Craig lived a life defined by creativity, independence, resilience, and adventure. Whether sailing across the Pacific, building homes by hand, carving signs, sculpting, skiing fresh powder, or quietly reading beneath the Nevada desert sky, he embraced each chapter of life with curiosity and determination.

Those who knew Craig will remember his artistic spirit, his quiet confidence, his unwavering self-reliance, and his ability to create beauty wherever he went. His greatest legacy lives on in the family he loved the works he crafted with his hands, and the memories he created with those fortunate enough to share in his remarkable journey.

He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, Utah.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services in person, you may view the Livestream HERE