I miss you, my friend…I’ll see you in heaven someday.

I once heard that we each have a handful of people who impact our lives in a special way, and I absolutely believe that. On multiple occasions I’ve looked back on my life and identified who that person was in each phase of my time on this planet. There are, however, a few whose presence and impact spans across decades, situations, even locations. One of mine is Craig Sjoberg, and we had to say goodbye to him this week.

I first met Craig when I was a 13 year old kid who wanted to get into law enforcement. Decades later, I’ve still found myself confiding in him and asking for counsel, taking note of his unwavering devotion to serving his community and helping others around him excel. I’m going to miss him terribly, but I’m thankful I’m among those who got to call him a friend and benefit from his experience and his commitment to helping others.

2026 was the year I was going to “flip the script” on the previous couple of years, which were hard, but 2026 had other plans and doubled down. Friends like Craig help enduring times like that possible, and his infectious laugh had a way of breaking a bad mood. I sure wish I could have one more burger at Fried’s – or even better, another six-hour road trip – with him. But I know he’s in heaven – and yes, there’s a way you can know where you’re going for eternity, it’s right there in the Bible – and I look forward to seeing him someday.

The most important line I’ll remember from all my time with Craig is the title of this post: “Nothing beats harder than the heart of a volunteer.” It’s not about a red license plate, it’s something created in the heart of some people to serve and to make a difference, not only in action but in being an example for others and helping to ensure they’re equipped to succeed not only in training and equipment but in character and heart. My friend embodied this, and the community is full of people, particularly in law enforcement, fire, and EMS who will attest to that fact. We’ll all miss him, but all we have to do is take a look around us on any given day to see the evidence of this.

Thank you for your friendship, your leadership, and your service to our community, Craig…for investing yourself in us, collectively and individually; for being a great advocate, cheerleader, and mentor. We’ll miss ya, buddy.