Darrel Craig Kimball

Darrell "Craig" Kimball, 79, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away on July 3, 2026, in Gothenburg, Nebraska. He was born on April 12, 1947, in North Platte, Nebraska, to Claude "Red" Kimball and Helen (Turner) Kimball. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1966 and served in the Army from 1966 to 1968. After the Army, he married Phyllis Henry. They were married from 1971 to 1984 and had two children.

Craig was the youngest of seven children and was often tasked with babysitting his nieces and nephews, who were closer to his age than some of his siblings. He always made time for his nieces and nephews and made sure to keep them informed about family events.

He was a proud Army veteran and served during the Vietnam War, flying missions into Vietnam from his station in Thailand. He enjoyed attending many Vietnam Veterans reunions and was part of the Army Otter Caribou Association.

His love of airplanes, boats, cars, and pretty much anything with a motor led him down a mechanical career path. He worked as a mechanic at Lepp and Osterloh, Nebraska Machinery, Foley Caterpillar, and Martin Aviation.

For most of his life, he belonged to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and, for many years, attended the annual EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He would never turn down the opportunity to take a flight.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Duane and Carla Kimball; his daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Kevin Tinley; his granddaughters and their spouses, Emily and Court Kaelin and Lucy and Colton McWhirter; his granddaughters, Ella Tinley and Sophia Tinley; his friend, Linda Kemp; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Helen Kimball, and his siblings and their spouses: Delbert and Donna Kimball, Joleen and Jim Rodzielski, Betty and Clarence Yancey, Richard "Dick" and Helen Kimball, Claire and Reta Kimball, and Karen and Don Rogers.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 8, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel, 302 S. Sycamore St., North Platte, NE 69101.