Penny Yvonne (Pond) Craig

Penny Yvonne (Pond) Craig, 65, of Mineral, died on June 12, 2025 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Penny passed away after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer and bone cancer and she is now in the arms of Jesus.

Penny was born on December 20, 1959 in Princeton, the daughter of Calvin and Wanda (Sawyers) Pond. She attended Wyanet grade and high schools. Penny worked many jobs over the years, but liked in home healthcare and food service the best. She did both for many years. Penny also loved gardening; canning and freezing much of the food she grew. She also loved bead crafting, creating beautiful bracelets and necklaces.

Penny married John Craig in 1981, in Wyanet. He preceded her death in 2015 in Charleston, Mo. After a short stay back in Illinois Penny moved to Vidor, Texas, where she met Wade Schwanke and fell in love a new. They later moved back to Illinois and settled in Mineral.

Penny is preceded in death by her father, her husband, a great-niece, Isabella Pond, maternal grandparents, Emmett and Goldie Sawyers, and paternal grand-parents Calvin and Noomia Pond.

She is survived by her best friend, Wade Schwanke of Mineral, her mother Wanda (Kenneth) Stanfield, a brother Mark (Carol) Pond and sister Paula Mayes, all of Princeton and her sister Julie (John) Vocke of Sheffield. Surviving as well is her step-daughter Kiyomi Craig and grandsons; Dominic, Samuel (Andrea), and Johnathan Waddle, Randall and Dylan Heinz, and great-grandchildren Delila and Anthony Heinz.

Visitation will be held from 3:30 pm until time of the memorial service at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at New Hope Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Laura Root-Tanner officiating. Cremation rites have been accorded and private inurnment will be at later date at Hopeland Cemetery in Buda, IL.

Please come dressed in bright colors in memory of Penny; especially her favorite color purple. No suits or ties!

Memorials may be directed to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital.