Craig Lampe

Portland, Ore.—Craig Lampe, a well-known and greatly respected figure in the flooring industry, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, from pancreatic cancer, after battling the disease for over three years. He was 61 years old.

Lampe worked in and motivated the field for 33 years, holding leadership positions in both manufacturing and distributing. He began his career as Western regional sales manager for Congoleum Corp. Most recently, he was vice president of Wanke Cascade, where he operated the distributor’s sales and marketing team for 25 years, until retiring in 2003.

He was also an active member of the National Wood Flooring Association and the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors.

“Craig was an inspiration to all of us at the company and especially the sales team,” said Brian Radditz, Wanke’s president and CEO. “At our annual managers’ retreat last month, we created the ‘Craig Lampe Achievement Award,’ an annual honor given to one salesperson who demonstrated the highest standards of sales excellence. Craig’s positive influence lives on.”

Born March 19, 1945, in Patterson, N.J., Lampe served in the Army in the Vietnam War, where he received a Bronze Star for Valor. He graduated from Westminster College in Pennsylvania, and in 1979, relocated to Portland, Ore.

He is survived by his wife, Janis Marie Loter; son, Stewart; stepdaughter, Jennifer Thuringer; stepson, Jeff Hendricks; stepmother, Pauline; sister, Allyson Hopkins; brother, Bruce, and five grandchildren.

His family requests donations be sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, #7000, El Segundo, Calif. 90245.