Cooper Kirby Craig-Mellmer

Funeral Mass for Cooper Kirby Craig-Mellmer, 11, of Dickinson, will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 9, 2025 at St. John Paul II Chapel on the Campus of Dickinson Trinity with overflow available in the Trinity Auditorium. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson.

Visitation for Cooper will be Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home, with Rosary and Vigil Service taking place at 6:00 p.m. 

Cooper passed away surrounded by family on Friday, December 13, 2024 at MD Anderson, Houston, TX.

Cooper Kirby Craig-Mellmer was born on October 21, 2013, in Dickinson, ND, to Zach and Jenna (Kirby) Craig. He grew up and attended pre-school and eventually grade school at Trinity Elementary West. The Trinity Titan family was second to none and he was so proud to be a Titan. The Catholic faith was important to him and he stayed close to Jesus. Cooper from a very young age was always on the go and his father only fueled that mindset more. By the age of four, Cooper had flown more than a dozen times following his father around on all of his exciting ventures. When his father unexpectantly passed away in 2018, Cooper remained the adventurous spirited little boy, recognizing each day as a gift from God, not to be wasted. Sometime later, Cooper was blessed again with an incredibly charismatic, thrill-seeking dad, Marc Mellmer. The two hit it off right from the start, so much so that Cooper thought Marc was solely coming over to the house to just play and hangout with him, not his mom too. Cooper was so excited when his mom and Marc married in 2021 and had already been embracing his added Mellmer family like he had been a part of it his whole life. In August 2024, Cooper proudly welcomed his little sister, Collins, and she immediately became his ray of sunshine each day.

At the age of six, Cooper was diagnosed with cancer, but this never detoured his adventurous spirit. Coop was all boy, and lived each day on the go: building forts, running the neighborhood with friends, leaving no stick or rock untouched, no puddle not jumped in, no tree row unexplored, and dirt was just part of his attire. Ages were irrelevant with Cooper and he embraced all of his friends and cousins from the babies to the big kids. He valued anytime spent with family doing whatever. He particularly loved lake time with his cousins, tubing, and endless dock jumping. He loved throwing football passes, ranger rides, dirt bike riding, snow skiing, swimming, Saturday morning donut runs, drawing, lego building, going for walks, and impromptu bird hunts at the farm. He treasured his time spent in the wrestling room with his dad and was ecstatic when they would stay for the older boys wrestling practice since it allowed him time to catch up with his older buddies who graciously treated him like a little brother. He especially cherished his time with his Papa Kirby, those two were interconnected from the start and both had exquisite childlike imaginations that left each playdate going way too fast. 

Cooper dreamed big, nothing was impossible, and missing out was never an option. When it was suggested he might have to choose between becoming a professional football player or a member of law enforcement, he would emphatically choose both. He would play football on Sunday afternoons and still make it back in time to work the night shift for the DPD. Cooper was so proud of being sworn in as a member of Dickinson’s finest. In spite of his health set-backs Cooper was a true inspiration in the way he lived each day to the fullest. His caring, outgoing attitude and resilient spirit will be greatly missed by the countless friends and family he said good-bye to, all too soon.

Cooper is survived by his mom and dad, Jenna and Marc Mellmer; sister, Collins Mellmer; brother, Cauy Craig; Grandparents, Jeff and Sylvia Kirby; Rick and Gloria Mellmer; Bob and Rhonda Craig; Monty and DeWana Leonard; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father Zach Craig and infant brother Adam Mellmer.

In lieu of flowers, Cooper’s family suggests donations to the: Cooper Craig-Mellmer Memorial fund.

Please send memorial donations to: Stevenson Funeral Home, 2067 1st street west, Dickinson, ND 58601.