Craig Allen Dinkel, age 58, was born September 25, 1963, in Omaha, NE, and passed away July 19, 2022, at his home in Temple, TX surrounded by family. He was the third youngest child born to Bill and Bea Dinkel.
Craig graduated from Sidney, Nebraska High School in 1982 and furthered his education at Laramie County Community College and Western Nebraska Community College studying auto and diesel mechanics. He had a reputation of being a first rate mechanic and could fix about anything. Craig was a Ford Mechanic in Chadron and Alliance, Nebraska for several years and then worked for BNSF Railroad for 25 years as a machinist before his health forced him into early retirement in April, 2022. He dearly loved his four cats and they were a comfort to him as the cancer was taking over his body.
Craig married Joann Cheeney October 14, 1995, and she was his dedicated care giver right up to the end.
Survivors include his loving wife, Joann and four children: Jonathon Dinkel (Sarah), North Platte, NE; Justin Dinkel (Kim) Big Springs, NE; Kaylee Dinkel, Corpus Christi, TX; and Dylan Dinkel, Temecula, California. Craig was very proud of his children and their accomplishments. Other survivors include parents Bill and Bea Dinkel, North Platte, NE; sisters DewAnn Smith, Sidney, NE; Karen Jerde (Stephan), Westville, IN; Father and Mother in Laws Myron and Elmira Cheeney, Moody, TX, sister in law Angie Alcozer (Gilbert); three grand children, Trevor, Kanoa, Ivana and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He had two special co-workers, Tim Davis and Max Maddox and a long-time best friend from school days, Bob Buttle and many friends throughout Nebraska, Montana and Texas.
Craig was preceded in death by his grandparents: Vern and Idona Dinkel and Roy and Lucille Kyser. Also preceding him was brother in law Dexter Smith, and his beloved Harley Davidson.
Services will be at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Belton, TX, August 2, 2022, at 4:00 PM. Memorials can be made to Platte Valley Bank in Alliance or Sidney, Nebraska, under Craig and Joann Dinkel benefit, or to the Cancer Research Institute for Head and Neck Cancer.