Fredric S. Gakle Obituary (1932 - 2017)

Fredric S. Gakle, 85 years of age, of Beatrice passed away at the Beatrice Community Hospital Wednesday morning, June 14, 2017. He was born on March 17, 1932 in Sabetha, KS to Henry and Helen (Stowell) Gakle, and was a 1950 graduate of Norfolk High School, Norfolk, NE. Fred served his country in the United States Navy from October 16, 1950 until July 15, 1954 having served in Guam and on the USS Kula Gulf aircraft carrier. Fred and Marlene (Hamouz) Bartels were married on January 11, 1986. He worked for the NPPD for 39 years in various communities, moved to Beatrice from O'Neill, NE, and was the NPPD District Manager in Beatrice from 1980 until retiring on April 30, 1994. He attended church faithfully at various churches in Beatrice. Fred had been a member of the Garfield Masonic Lodge #95, Blue Valley Shrine Club, Sesostris Shrine Temple, Roadrunners, and the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (serving as President in 1983). Fred enjoyed golfing, volunteered at the Beatrice Community Food Pantry, was an avid gardener, and volunteered planting various flower beds around Beatrice (especially at Centenary United Methodist Church, Charles Park, and Beatrice Public Library). Survivors include his wife Marlene; daughter Paula (John) Houck of Overland Park, KS; Marlene's children Suzanne Bartels Munn of Beatrice, Donald Jon Bartels of Tobias, Douglas (Anita) Bartels of DeWitt, and Daniel J. Bartels of Bennet; grandchildren Sara (John) Duncan, Patricia (Max) Whitsell, Laura Munn, Neal Bartels, Logan (Anna) Bartels, Evan (Cryssa) Bartels, Desiree Bartels, Eric Douglas Bartels, Emily (Jeremy) Young, and Daniel Ross Bartels; Great Grandchildren Carter, Caila, Cole and Colin Young; sister Glenna (Darrell) Hammer of Cheyenne; and daughter Nancy (Frank) Rash and family; and a host of friends and relatives. Fred was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Helen (Stowell) Gakle; step father Floyd McKim; brothers Paul and Gordon Gakle; brother in law Donald Hamouz; and son in law Myron Munn. Celebration of Life services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Beatrice with Reverend Dr. Dirk Reek officiating. Burial of ashes at the Tobias Cemetery with military graveside services by the Tobias American Legion. Visitation on Friday, June 23, 2017 from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with family greeting friends from 6-7:30. A family prayer service at 9:45 AM Saturday at the church. Memorials to Beatrice Public Library or the Sesostris Shrine Transportation Fund with the funeral home in charge. Sign Fred's online register book and view his video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.