Craig Melliger

Craig F. Melliger, age 70, of Columbus, Nebraska died Sunday, October 10, 2021 at his daughter's home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 18, 2021 at  St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus. Visitation is 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday with a 5:00 p.m. Vigil Service at McKown Funeral Home in Columbus. Visitation will continue Monday morning from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Columbus Cemetery.

The Vigil Service and Mass will be broadcast on the McKown Funeral Home Facebook page. You can access the Facebook page by clicking here .

Craig F. Melliger was born October 23, 1950 in Columbus, Nebraska to Warren and Barbara (Schumacher) Melliger.  He graduated from Scotus Central High School. Craig married Judy Bongers in Shelby, Nebraska. To that union their daughter Brenda was born. He worked for the Y-Not Café and the Q-Room in his younger years. Craig had owned and operated Craig Melliger Master Locksmith since 1976. He also worked for Behlen Manufacturing for many years and Coakley Industrial Supply Company. Craig enjoyed being a locksmith and collecting keys and locks. He also believed in recycling. He loved helping people and always had a story to tell. Craig loved when the Big Boy steam engine 4014 came to Columbus. He also liked to feed the squirrels and ducks and spend time with his family and grandchildren. He always loved his cats. Craig liked pistachios and said they are one of the good things in life and he likes his daughter's (Brenda's) pink hair. Craig was always told that he had the most beautiful blue eyes. He always had to have his pepper on all his food that he ate and took it every were he went.

We also would like to say thank you to the hospice staff and the social worker for everything they did.

He is survived by:
Wife: Judy Melliger of Columbus, NE
Daughter: Brenda (Raymond) Hughes of Columbus, NE
Daughter: Tracey (Eric) Clark of Spencer, IA
Grandchildren: Trea, Athena, Shayla and Tiffany Boswell; Shawn and Kayla Clark
Step grandchildren: Raymond Hughes Jr, Shirley Hughes
Brother: Curt Melliger of Cortez, CO
Sister: Debra (Ron) Getchell of Beaverton, OR

He was preceded in death by:
Parents: Warren and Barbara Melliger
Brother: Bruce Melliger