Dr. Craig James Shumard

Craig James Shumard MD, 65, passed away Aug. 12, 2025, with family by his side at Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury after a brief battle with cancer. Dr. Shumard was born March 8, 1960, in Wichita, Kan., to Jack and Barbara (Ponsford) Shumard. He was baptized March 29, 1970, at College Hill Baptist Church in Wichita, Kan. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout, achieving his Eagle Scout designation, the highest honor in scouting, in 1975. As an adult he enjoyed helping young men earn their first aid merit badges.

He attended grade school in Wichita, Kan., and graduated from Wichita Southeast High in 1978. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairmount College of Liberal Arts at Wichita State University in 1982.  He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1986. Dr. Shumard completed a residency in family medicine at St. Joseph’s Medical School in Wichita in 1989, serving as Chief Family Practice Resident at St. Joseph’s from July 1, 1988 – June 30, 1989. He achieved certification with the American Board of Family Medicine in 1989 and has been certified throughout his medical career. He joined The Fairbury Clinic, PC, in family medicine in 1989, and later became one of the physician owners. In 1998 he was named the Outstanding Rural Health practitioner by the Nebraska Rural Health Association. The Fairbury Clinic became part of Jefferson Community Health and Life in 2016. Dr. Shumard was known to be an excellent and caring family medicine provider taking care of a full scope of medical practice for multiple generations. He was known to make home visits if it was in the best interest of the patient. He was known to be a straight shooter with his patients, not sugar coating his message. He enjoyed teaching and was always willing to have students shadow his work. Dr. Shumard mentored many rotating medical students. He served many terms as chief of staff at JCH&L during his tenure. He was honored by the American Academy of Family Practice in 2019 for 30 years of service as a family medicine physician.

In 1998, he was appointed to the board of the Southeast Rural Physician Alliance, which is dedicated to providing continued access to quality health care in southeast Nebraska. Dr. Shumard served as secretary/treasurer and president during his time on the board of directors. He was in charge of educational offerings as a member of the quality assurance committee.

Craig married Stacy Kruse in Hanover, Kan., May 17, 1997. To this union two daughters were born, Marah Helen on Nov. 17, 1999, and Claire Anne on Oct. 18, 2001.

Craig always loved hunting – especially pheasant and quail – and fishing – especially walleye and salmon. He said that when he was on his way to interview in Fairbury, he saw a pheasant, and took that as a good sign that Fairbury was where he was meant to be. He was instrumental in the formation of Rock Creek Pheasants Forever in 2001, serving as president and working to help the chapter raise funds, providing equipment, and providing education. He especially enjoyed organizing and participating in Youth Mentor Hunts and instructing Hunter Safety Education. He participated in numerous habitat management programs to increase the pheasant and quail population and encouraged others to do so, as well.

Craig became involved in the Little Blue Public Water Project South because he knew it would address potential health and water quality problems he saw for residents who lived south of Fairbury in Nebraska and into Kansas. He was one of six Nebraskans asked to serve on an advisory committee for development of the project. During the multiple-year project, he was instrumental in making contacts with people and visiting with them about their water needs. Craig became a notary and worked to make sure easements were properly signed so the project could be completed. The $2 million project brought water from the Fairbury municipal water system to 130 households in Nebraska and Kansas.

Dr. Shumard served on the Jefferson Health Care Foundation as president and has helped encourage and facilitate fund-raising efforts of Jefferson Community Health and Life. He was an avid supporter of and user of the Burkley Fitness Center at JCH&L from its earliest days. He was instrumental in the start of the Adventure Race, including helping plan the route and obtaining access to properties for the race to use.

Dr. Shumard spearheaded the effort to secure funding for the expansion of The Fairbury Clinic in 1998 with a USDA REDLG loan in partnership with Diller Telephone.

Craig has been a member of the Fairbury Museum Board for nearly four years. He was a supporter of the Veteran’s Memorial in the Fairbury City Park and the annual Fairbury Museum Car Show. He organized a Swap Meet for the 2024 car show to give auto enthusiasts more to do and see while in Fairbury.

He was proud to be a farm owner and enjoyed hobby farming and maintaining his CRP ground. Craig enjoyed vehicles and refurbished a Model A truck he proudly drove in parades with his daughters’ softball teams. In recent years he enjoyed a convertible and a motorcycle. His vehicles were always spick and span clean.

Craig owned properties in North Dakota on Devil’s Lake and in Washington state on the Columbia River and enjoyed trips to both. He traveled to Canada, Alaska, and Europe; enjoyed scuba diving in Belize, Cancun and Roatan; and joined his whole family on a high school affiliated EF tour to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Craig enjoyed hosting parties at his home, including clinic Christmas party events, recruitment events, etc.

He attended his daughters’ sporting events whenever he could (and occasionally was called into service as the team doctor) and fondly remembered dancing with Claire to “Butterfly Kisses” during her annual dance recital. Craig was proud to see his daughters continue their educations to be a teacher (Marah) and a nurse (Claire). He was a member of the American Lutheran Church of Fairbury. He was also proud to be able to “give away” his daughter, Marah, in marriage on July 23.

He is survived by wife, Stacy; daughters Marah (Marshall) York of Fairbury; Claire Shumard of Omaha (and significant other Garrett Bloom);  sister, Kathy Mary Shumard Gow of Wichita; niece Jessica Gow (Adam) Rowell of Wichita; brothers and sisters in law: Stephanie (Lee) Holtmeier of Washington, Kan.; Jim (Becky) Kruse of Hanover, Kan.; and Russ (Stacy) Behrends of Hanover, Kan.; great nieces and nephews; parents in law: Russ (Diane) Behrends of Hanover, Kan., and Jim (Diana) Kruse of Lincoln; cousins; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He will be missed by family, friends, patients, coworkers and many in the medical profession throughout the state.

Family will visit friends at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home Friday, Aug. 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the American Lutheran Church, 1111 12th St., in Fairbury with Pastor Rob Corum officiating. Lunch will follow at On the Bricks, 508 E St., Fairbury. Private family burial at a later date. Memorials to family choice.

Cards may be sent to the Shumard family in care of Jefferson Community Health & Life, PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE 68352.