Craig Alan Closterman, 52, of Waverly, died Friday, June 4, 2021.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 9, from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., at the Waverly Baptist Church in Waverly. Funeral Services will follow at 11 a.m., officiated by Pastor Zach Haffecke. Burial will be in Val Halla Cemetery, Waverly, Missouri.

For those who would like to make a memorial contribution, the family respectfully suggests they be made to Waverly Baptist Church or Lafayette County Enterprises. They may be left at or mailed to Bittiker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 223, Carrollton, Missouri, 64633.

Craig was born in Waverly Missouri on August 8, 1968, to Earl J. and Mildred (Guthrie) Closterman.

Craig graduated from Lafayette County C-1 School District in Higginsville in 1989.  Craig was a very active person being a greeter and usher at the Waverly Baptist Church for approximately 25 years and loved his men’s Sunday School Class.  He retired from Lafayette County Enterprises in Higginsville after working there for 30 years.  He loved his country music and his race cars with Charlie McKinney.

Craig was involved in Missouri Special Olympics for 37 years participating in basketball, track and field, softball throw, and the pentathlon.  He went to International Special Olympics at Notre Dame in 1987 bringing home Missouri’s first gold medal.  In 1999 he was inducted into the Missouri Special Olympics Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri.  In 1995, Craig and his two sisters, Carol & Connie, ran the New York Marathon.  He was the first Down’s Syndrome participant to run the New York Marathon.  He also received an invitation to be a support runner for the torch run in St. Joseph as the Torch Relay made its way to Salt Lake City, Utah for the 2002 Olympics.  This invitation was in recognition of Craig’s many achievements as a runner despite his disability.

He leaves his family to mourn his loss, his mom, Mildred of the home; his sisters, Carol Clark of the home, Connie (Robin) Kalthoff of Grand Pass, and Suzanne (David) Smith of Waverly; nephews, Chris (Amy) Kalthoff of Sedalia, Andrew (Alicia) Smith of Alma, and Alex Smith of Waverly.

He was preceded in death by his father, Earl J. Closterman; and sister, Deanna Lee Closterman.

Please share your condolences with the family by visiting www.bittikerfuneralhomes.com and click on the obituaries link.