Lester Wayne Shickell (1918-2021)

SCHICKELL, SAWTELL, GILDERSLEEVE, ANDERSON, ASHBY, NICHOLS, KOOYMAN, WARREN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/6/2022 at 18:44:25

Obituary From Soderstrum Funeral Homes, Story County, Iowa.

Lester Wayne Shickell of Ames, Iowa, passed away at 102 years of age on January 5, 2021 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Les met his goal of reaching his 75th wedding anniversary on January 3rd, married to Ruth Gildersleeve Shickell, the love of his life. He was in good health until recently and had continued living independently on the farm with Ruth until he was taken to Hospice.

The immediate family will celebrate his life at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, January 8, 2021 at the Adams Funeral Home, followed by burial with military honors at Gilbert Cemetery. There will be no visitation or public funeral due to COVID-19. However, the service will be livestreamed and a link will be provided on the Tribute Wall of Les’s obituary on the Adams Funeral Home website.

Les was born in Colo, Iowa, on April 23, 1918 to Floyd "Sidney" and Fern (Sawtell) Shickell. He grew up on farms around the Colo area and lived in Story County his entire life. As the eldest child, he carried a heavy load of responsibility in the farm work. It was a very different kind of farming in the 1920s and 1930s, and his family enjoyed hearing his stories of life in those days. Lester graduated from Milford Township School in 1936 and continued farming for his parents and neighbors until he was drafted in 1941 into the US Army 43rd Combat Engineers. He served in World War II for four and a half years, 39 months of which were spent in the jungles of New Guinea. He was one of very few remaining heroes of the greatest generation, and his family is proud of his service and his humility in his sacrifice.

Les and Ruth married in Gilbert, Iowa, on January 3, 1946, and after renting farms for four years, they were able to buy their own farm just north of Ames, where they have remained since 1950. There they raised four children and were involved in their Gilbert church and Gilbert Community Schools, where Les served on both the church board and the Gilbert School board. Les enjoyed being of help and service in his community, and faith and family were of utmost importance to him.

Our dad loved everything about farm life, from raising livestock to planting and harvesting, He also loved to socialize with friends, eat a good meal with a chocolate malt, play cards, and fish in northern Minnesota. He and our mom were avid travelers, exploring both overseas as well as throughout the United States. At our extended family dinners, we all enjoyed Dad's descriptive storytelling of hilarious events.

He leaves behind many who will miss him, including his wife, Ruth; his four children: Steve (Julie) of Ames, Marilyn Anderson (John) of Evergreen, Colorado, Patricia Ashby (Ed) of Polk City, and Joyce Nichols (John) of Urbandale; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and his sister Audrey Kooyman of Ottumwa; in addition to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Doris Warren; and his great-granddaughter Lily Caroline.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for the family at www.adamssoderstrum.com. In lieu of flowers, any contribution in Les's honor may be given to Grace Bible Church, Gilbert, Iowa, or to Israel Family Hospice House.