Gary Craig, age 77 of Dalton NE, passed away at his home on January 2, 2021. Funeral services will be Friday, January 8, 2021, at 10:00am at the Bridgeport Church of Christ with Pastor Johnathan Seng officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. in the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance, NE. Visitation will be Thursday, January 7th, from 5-7 at the Bridgman Funeral Home in Bridgeport with family present. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorials in Gary’s honor can be made to the Dalton or Gurley Fire Departments, or to the family for future designations in Gary’s memory. Online condolences may be made and his full obituary can be seen by viewing Gary’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Bridgeport is serving the Craig family.
Gary Joe Craig was born in Alliance Nebraska on March 1, 1943 to Irving S. and Marjorie (Taylor) Craig. He grew up with his siblings on the family farm in Alliance and Whitney Nebraska. He attended Alliance High School but attained his GED while in the Army. Gary was a fixed wing aircraft mechanic and was stationed in Korea during his years of service to our country.
Upon his discharge he returned to Alliance and went to work for the Fertilizer department at the local Co-op. It was in Alliance that he met and married Sherry Wacker. Gary and Sherry farmed in the Alliance area and he was also employed as the Box Butte County Weed and Roads Superintendent later in life and retired from the Goshen County Roads Superintendent in Torrington, Wyoming. Upon retirement he and Sherry moved to Dalton, Nebraska enjoying the quiet life surrounded by grandchildren and continued to be a steward of the land by tending his yard, trees, and making Sherry’s garden bigger than she wanted each year. In his free time during the winters, he worked to rebuild engines, building model airplanes and cars, and skillfully making each of his grandchildren rocking horses.
Gary is survived by his wife Sherry of 53 years, their children and spouses, Kris (Jeff) Tvrs, Cindy (Don) Lemmon, Mimi (Jeff) Feagler, JoAnne Craig, Justin (Jodi) Craig, Samantha Craig, Casey (Eric) Hansen, and Nathan Craig, 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his and Sherry’s siblings, Lloyd (Marian) Andrews, Darrell Craig, Ardith Robison, Larry (Louanna) Craig, Mary (Dennis) Martin, Loren Craig, Sheila Craig, Jim Wacker, Rick (Carol) Wacker, Pat (Bruce) Dobry, Mike (Rhonda) Wacker and Brian (Susan) Wacker and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Marjorie Craig, siblings Carol (Andy) Cisneros, Robert Craig and Lyle Craig, and his in-laws Rudy and Elsie Wacker, Sina Craig, and Arthur (Corky) Robison.
The Craig family would like to thank the Dalton and Gurley Fire departments (Hannah Geller, Ryan Borges, Sheila Rathman, Shawn Kruse) for their quick response and care at the home, Krystal Borges, the Cheyenne County Sheriff Department, Gordy Stitt, Cody Bridgman and the staff at Bridgman Funeral Home for their services and compassion following the loss of our husband, father and grandfather.
