Craig Wallace Monson

Craig Monson, age 78 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE.

Visitation will be this Thursday, August 21st, at the United Lutheran Church from 5-7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will follow on Friday August 22nd at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Tom Tuura officiating. Following the service, attendees are invited to come to the VFW Hall for lunch where the family will join them following the private burial. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the United Lutheran Church's website.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Drossin, Logan Drossin, Matthew Monson, James Black, Jackson Kolsrud, and Luke Kolsrud. Honorary Pallbearers will be Travis Monson, Ryan Kolsrud, Howard Drossin, Jon Black, Dave Felber, Steve Smith, Keelan Holloway, and Chad Johnson.

Craig Wallace was born on May 19, 1947 in Osceola, NE to Wallace F. and Virginia M. (Anderson) Monson. He grew up in Osceola, graduating from Osceola High School in 1965. Craig married Arllys (Cramer) and received his Bachelor's Degree in Business from UNL in 1969. In 1972, he graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law. In 1973, Craig moved to Laurel, Nebraska after purchasing the law firm of Dave Curtis. Over the course of his forty-four year law career, Craig practiced in county and district courts throughout northeastern Nebraska, providing counsel for the communities of Laurel, Dixon, Allen, and Concord, Nebraska as City Attorney; for Laurel-Concord and Wakefield School Districts as School Attorney; and also served in the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Additionally, Craig held a real estate broker’s license and was an FHA loan-closing attorney, operating his own real estate business for over 30 years. He was a member of the United Lutheran Church and was past president of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce and member of the Masonic Lodge. Craig was a staunch defender of those most vulnerable and was known and respected in his community for his professional integrity and ethics.

Personally, Craig was a loving and devoted husband to his wife and soulmate, Arllys, for 56 years. He was a kind and dedicated father and grandfather to his four kids, twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. When he wasn't working, he enjoyed summers spent with his family and friends at his cabin on the Lewis and Clark Lake, where he taught his kids how to waterski and fish. Each winter, he would take his family to go snow skiing in Colorado. A lifelong athlete, he coached his kids and grandkids in sports and enjoyed supporting them at all their events. An avid outdoorsman, he loved to fish, and hunt turkeys, pheasants and ducks with his friends and family, both locally and in Canada and Alaska. His stories of these adventures were legendary. He was a loyal Husker's football and volleyball fan. Craig also enjoyed managing a fantasy football team with his two best friends. He had a huge heart for his dogs, many of whom were rescues.

Craig is survived by his wife, Arllys, of Laurel; his four children and their spouses Jessica (Howard) Drossin of Burbank, CA, Travis (Melissa) Monson of Mesa, AZ, Gina (Ryan) Kolsrud of Chandler, AZ, Katie (Jon) Black of Crozet, VA; 12 grandchildren Jacob Drossin, Logan Drossin, Vivienne Drossin, Ariana Monson Martinez, Holly Monson, Matthew Monson, Jackson Kolsrud, Luke Kolsrud, Lily Kolsrud, Maddie Black, James Black, and Ava Black; two great grandchildren Jude Martinez, Harvest Martinez.

He was preceded in death by his parents Wallace and Virginia Monson; a sister Melanie Monson, and infant brother Wayne Ford Monson.