LINN VALLEY — Gerald “Jerry” Thomas Hickel, 76, Linn Valley, Kan. passed away at his home on Thursday, May 21, 2020. 

Jerry was born March 7, 1944 in Great Bend, Kan. to Frank and Katherine (Krom) Hickel. He grew up in Beaver and Great Bend, Kan. and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1962. He attended Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. Jerry was a veteran of the United States Army. He married Jolene Marie Schmidt in Hoisington, Kan. on May 31, 1969. They lived in Independence, Kan. for four years before moving back to Great Bend. Jerry retired in 2008 as Director of Material Control for Fuller Brush Company in Great Bend, Kan. after 32 years and moved to Linn Valley, Kan. in 2008.  

He was a member of the American Legion, and The Odd Fellows Lodge in both Great Bend and Independence, Kan. He served as President of Cheyenne Bottoms Sportsmen Club from 1984-1985. He was a Boy Scout leader and the first Scout Master of Troop 149 which he formed in 1986 and was honored as the Webelos “Leader of the Year”, Cheyenne District, Kanza Council. Jerry received the President’s Award from CPAC with Fuller Brush Company in 2000. He will be missed by family and friends.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents; wife Jolene and brother Gary Lee Hickel. He is survived by his children Matthew Lee Hickel, Linn Valley, Kan. and Angela (David) Hickel Durland, Spring Hill, Kan.; sister Patricia Green, Linn Valley, Kan. and granddaughter Emma Durland.  Inurnment at a future date at Beaver Cemetery, Beaver, Kan. Memorials may be made to Mid American Chapter of National MS Society 2020 W. 89th Street, Suite 100, Leawood, Kansas 66206 or Golden Belt Humane Society, 151 S. 281 Highway, Great Bend, Kansas 67530. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com. 

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bruce Funeral Home

106 S. Center 

Gardner, KS 66030

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 29, 2020