Craig John Czarnek

Craig John Czarnek Bear, 46 of Hastings NE died Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at home with loved ones at his side.



Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, January 28th, 2017 at 10 am at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Hastings with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Visitation will be Friday, January 27th, 2017 from 5 pm to 7 pm with the family present, with the rosary following at 7 pm at the Apfel Funeral Home Chapel, Hastings. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfuneralhome.com. Apfel Funeral Home, Hastings, is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be given to the family.

Craig was the second child, born 6/23/70 to James and Virginia (Klimek) Czarnek in Loup City NE.

He was a graduate of Loup City High School, and Central Community College in Hastings. He met Penny Kamler while in college and the two married on January 7, 1990. They have 2 sons.

He made a career as a mechanic, owned his own shop and then at Kerr Chevrolet until it closed. He moved on to Jerry Spady Chevrolet as a service technician until his health no longer allowed him to work. In his spare time he enjoyed helping family and friends with their car repairs.

When he wasnt at work, Craig graciously tended to his grandkids, nephews and nieces. He liked to hunt in the Sherman County area, and was an avid sports shooter with the local gun club. He was handy with reloading his own shells and rebuilding guns. With his family, he enjoyed riding ATVs, online gaming, pets and being outdoors. In recent years, he and his wife took up motorcycle riding which brought them great joy. Known to almost everyone he knew as Bear he lived up to the tough and strong nickname when helping friends but cuddled and loved when he was around children. He never met a child who did not instantly warm up to him, or an adult who could out talk him.

Craig was preceded in death by his grandparents, and two young classmates.

Survivors include his wife Penny, sons Cody (wife Ashley and sons Zaiden, Braycen, and Dexter and daughter Ralynn), Scott (partner Serina Bishop, daughters Rosalyn and Abigaile), parents Jim and Virginia Czarnek, a sister Janelle Krzycki of Ashton, NE, Brother Bill Czarnek of Great Bend Kansas, and brother Micheal Czarnek of Kearney NE, Alyshia Guyer adopted daughter, Kathy Nelson, Mother-In-Law, brother-in-laws and spouses, Mike and Belinda Kamler, Kevin Kamler and Paul Kamler, sister-in-law, Kathy Tockey and brother-in-law, Andy and Kelli Nelson and Steve and Angie Nelson, and many nieces and nephews.