Gerald Fickel of Gresham passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, 2022, at Seward Memorial Hospital.
Gerald “Jerry” was born April 1, 1929, in his parent’s farmhouse in Butler County. He graduated from Gresham High School in 1946 and began farming with his father. After his father’s death four months later, Gerald took over the farm. He farmed and lived on this farm for the rest of his life. On Aug. 13, 1955, Gerald married Elvyna Herbst at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. They met when she moved to Nebraska to teach at the one-room school affiliated with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gresham. They had three children, Vicki, Twila and Kent.
When Gerald retired in 1995, he transferred his passion for farming to gardening. No one left his home in the summer without something delicious from his garden. At this time, he also began his hobby of woodturning, which he had been introduced to many years earlier by his father-in-law. He went to many woodturning classes and symposiums all over the United States to hone his skills. Many lucky friends and family members were recipients of his work.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Elvyna; children, Vicki (Steve) of Gurnee, Illinois, Twila of Utica, and Kent (Teri) of Utica; grandchildren, Regan and Kali Fickel; brothers-in-law, Larry (Connie) Herbst of Ephraim, Wisconsin, Gaylord (Linda) Herbst of Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, and Terry (Paula) Herbst of St. Francis, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Pam (Robert) Bee of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Alma Fickel; infant brother, Laverne; and parents-in-law Bill and Verna Herbst.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 4, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home with a gathering of family and friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at Grace Lutheran Church in Seward with committal at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Gresham. Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
