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Craig Miner Obituary
Craig William Miner was born on March 26, 1948, in Iowa City, Iowa.
He was raised by Albert and Bessie (Lockerby) Hollins. The family moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa when Craig was age four. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School with the Class of 1966. After high school, Craig joined the United States Marine Corps. He served two tours in Vietnam, he served in Grenada and also in Desert Storm when they liberated Kuwait. He remained a mechanic in the Marine Reserves until his honorable discharge in 1992. Craig had his pilots license and he enjoyed flying whenever he had the opportunity. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and he spent a great deal of time restoring old cars. Most of all, he enjoyed being with his children: Michelle, Theresa and Geoffrey and with his grandchildren. After his retirement, he moved to Shelby and began driving truck for a small trucking company based out of Des Moines. This is how he and his boss, Nancy Holloway, met. The couple began dating and Nancy moved to Shelby to be with Craig; the couple married on September 26, 2006 in Harlan. Together, they owned and operated the trucking company and he continued to drive truck.
Craig died on Sunday, November 18, 2012, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska having attained the age of 64 years, 7 months and 23 days.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Gloria Miner.
He is survived by his wife Nancy Holloway of Shelby; his two daughters, Michelle and her husband John DiLena of Irvine, California and Theresa and her husband David Fierro of Madison, Wisconsin; one son Geoffrey Miner of La Puente, California; four grandchildren: Vaughn, Areya, Geoffrey and Joey all of California; two sisters: Nita Root of California and Beverly Alley of Council Bluffs, Iowa; two step daughters and three step grandchildren. Step-grandson Nick Michael followed in Craig's footsteps and joined the USMC in 2007 and is a Sgt. at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. Craig is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorial Services will be held at a later date.
This obituary was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil.
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Nancy
March 26, 2013
Today would have been your 65th birthday.Thinking of you ...
picture of a much younger Craig
January 4, 2013
Michelle DiLena
January 3, 2013
Thinking of you today, Dad. Sending you our love. You aren't forgotten.
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Being welcomes at the airport by the kids -- am guessing this was when he came back from Saudi--
January 2, 2013
Dad & Me around 1997
Theresa Fierro
December 14, 2012
Dan Altazan
December 7, 2012
Hi, Nancy i have been thinking about what i want to say. I loved Craig he was the best friend a man could have he was brave beyond belief we were together 2 tours in Nam same squad tell his children for me that he was a good man the night before his operation we prayed so I know he is with the guys in heaven guarding the streets I'm so sorry for your loss the Coonass.
Picture taken on completion of Boot Camp -- next stop, Vietnam ( how young he looks ! )
December 6, 2012
A Portrait of Courage and Conviction
December 5, 2012
Craig & grandson Nick ( Nick's boot camp graduation 2007 ) )
December 5, 2012
Linda Hudson
December 4, 2012
Nancy I was sad to hear about Craig. My prayers are with you and your family.
Linda at Greentree Transportation
Rhonda Davis
December 4, 2012
My god bless and keep you in his lonving arms while you find the strength and courage to get thru this time!
Hugs and prayers,
Rhonda Davis
LILY SHERRON
December 4, 2012
Nancy, I was so sad to hear of Craig's passing. He will be truly missed. Please take care and keep in touch with us. LILY (Greentree Trsp Co.)
sitting on the deck talking ( we did a lot of that this year )
December 3, 2012
Kicking back & enjoying the peace and quiet
December 2, 2012
Craig and Dan Trenski
December 2, 2012
Christmas with the Family
December 2, 2012
Two " Jarheads ' -- Craig & grandson Nick
December 2, 2012
with his friends, David & Dan Trenski
December 2, 2012
Joann Stephens
December 2, 2012
I want to say I'm so sorry for the loss of a great man..I just found out today. I will always love u Uncle Craig..RIP
Dad and me at my graduation from UCSD
Michelle DiLena
December 1, 2012
Michelle DiLena
December 1, 2012
Michelle DiLena
December 1, 2012
Dad and Areya playing at Coronado (San Diego)
Michelle DiLena
December 1, 2012
His passion , or one of them, flying planes. Thanks to best bud Mike Barry, he got his pilot's license
November 30, 2012
My two favorite ' Devil Dogs ' , Craig & grandson Nick
Nancy Holloway- Miner
November 30, 2012
I thought of you today, but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too.
I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.
All I have are memories and a picture in a frame.
Your memory is a keepsake, from which I'll never part.
God has you in his arms. I have you in my heart.
Michelle DiLena
November 27, 2012
As anyone who has known him can attest to, my father was a complex person. He held the spectrum of profound joy in life to the deepest pain. A marker of his journey through this life was his warrior spirit. There isn't much he would back down from. And while he could challenge the patience of a saint, I always saw that spark of the Divine glowing deep in his soul. Maybe it was a look...or a comment made unexpectedly...sometimes in his moments of reflection and vulnerability; whatever it was, you knew it when you saw it or heard it. This is the spark my heart holds onto in his crossing. In this spark lies all of my precious memories of a father who took me skiing and flying, who played videogames with me, who watched planes flying in to land with me, who told me the dark was my friend when I was scared, who instilled in me to never quit, who told me he loved me and was proud of me when it really counted, and who played in the water with my children. Our relationship was far from ideal or easy, but it was ours. Thank you, Dad, for what you have meant to my life. I know in my heart you are not gone, but simply transformed. We send you our love and blessings on your continued journey to oneness with your Creator. We love you always and honor you for all you wanted to give, tried to give, and did give.
And Nancy...thank you for being his rock all these years. He loved you and he did appreciate you. Our love and prayers are with you.
November 26, 2012
Craig was the best...crazy as the days long, silly and so excited to be alive. He talked a mean talk but loved from the bottom of his heart. And such an ornery character! Norman and Craig were best friends and joined the Marine Corps together. In bootcamp they met up with Denny and Bob. I, being Norm's little sister, considered Craig my "bud" also. I would later marry Denny and through the years we would run into each other at Norm's activities. We will forever miss you, Bud. Love Denny and Cheryl Hesman, Norman Larsen
November 25, 2012
So sorry to hear of Craigs passing. I remember him well from our days of eating green apples from Aunt Bessie's trees and sneeking tomatoes out of the garden! We had some fun times as kids. So glad he was able to live a life full of happiness and love of family. May your memories keep you warm throughout your years. My God give you strength during your time of sorrow. Say "hi" to Biff Craig,-- Cousin Marsha
Theresa (Miner) Fierro
November 25, 2012
My dad was a man who was as unique as they come and there will never be another like him. I have many memories of him that I will forever cherish. I think back to when I was a kid, and all the things we use to do, and places he use to take us. My earliest memory of him was when I was just a little girl and he was teaching me how to blow my nose right. And how to tie my shoes. My dad taught me a lot of things. And as I got older no matter how much time went by that we didn't see each other, there was always that special bond between him and I that could never be broken. I'm so grateful that I was able to spend time with him before he passed. I will miss him so much. Until the day we meet again, I love you dad.
Nancy, my heart and prayers go out to you..
November 25, 2012
God Bless you Craig. To you from me. Susie.With Love.
Susie ( Lockerby) Buse
November 25, 2012
Nancy and Family,
I am so very sorry for the loss of my dear cousin, and i am truely going to miss him. We had a life time of fun and memories as a kid and growing up, but as time went on we kind of lost each other. But my thoughts where of him where always fond and warm.I only wish I had got to know you, Nancy, I know you are the love of his life. We were close at one time,and in my heart we still are. I'm going to miss him badly. God be with you all and give you the peace you all need to make it through this.With Loving thoughts to the entire family, Susie.
Sharon Story
November 24, 2012
Nancy, Nita and Bev: I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of a wonderful human being.Every time I think of Craig I think of the time we tried to throw Gloria across the creek and she landed smack dab in the middle.
We played together a lot as kids and was so happy when we were able to spend time together before his passing. I know his loss will be felt very strongly by you all. Take care and God Bless. Susie wanted me to tell you she also is sorry to hear of his passing.
Sharon (Lockerby) Story
Michael Barry
November 24, 2012
Thanks for being a friend...miss you buddy!
November 23, 2012
I am so sorry for your loss.
MRS. BILL THOMAS
November 23, 2012
MY SYMPATHIES TO CRAIG'S LOVED ONES ON HEARING OF HIS PASSING. HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME @ THE THOMAS' AND MANY OF THEM WENT ON AHEAD OF HIM. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Nancy Holloway-Miner
November 23, 2012
Psalm 139:16 --
" all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one
of them came to be."
Always and Forever in my heart. Love, Nancy
November 21, 2012
Nita and Bev, I am so sorry to hear of Craigs passing. I have thought of you so many times, and I would have loved to seen Craig, I always thought he was in California yet . He probably drove passed my house many times, I live in Weston and that is the same highway you can take to Shelby. any way I am sending my condolence to you both and Craigs family too. Like I said i think of you all often. Take care. Irene Biggart Mass.
Harold and Bev Hatcher
November 21, 2012
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
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