C. Phillip Gitchel

Funeral Services for C. Phillip Gitchel will be conducted from Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, Nebraska on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Tom Thompson officiating. Interment will be held at the Orleans Cemetery at Orleans, Nebraska with military honors provided by the Orleans Harold Morin American Legion Post #184 in conjunction with the U.S. Army National Guards Honor Team.

Charles "Phillip" Gitchel, 81 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln, Nebraska. Phillip was born June 2, 1931 on the family farm, south of Woodruff in Phillips County, Kansas, the fifth of six children born to Charles Edward and Margaret Ann (Gipe) Gitchel. He received his primary education from a rural school Phillips County, Kansas and attended Phillipsburg, Kansas High School. Following his education, Phillip served his country in the U.S. Army from November 20, 1952 until October 22, 1954 when he was honorably discharged.

On December 3, 1954, Phillip was united in marriage to Jolley Ann Williams at Orleans and to this union three children were born: Loren, Peggy and Ella. The family made their home in the Denver, Colorado area. Phillip was employed as a truck driver for Safeway Stores, Inc. in the Denver area for over 26 years. In 1980, they relocated to Loomis, Nebraska, where he continued to drive truck and was employed by the Loomis Elevator and Lumberyard from 1981 until 2001. On the side he also enjoyed assisting local farmers driving a grain cart.

He loved to hunt, fish and Phillip and Jolley especially enjoyed camping and boating. They enjoyed their membership of the Second Chance Camping Club and he was the past president of the Mid-Nebraska Camping Club as well. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jolley on March 13, 2005.

Phillip was a member of the American Legion in Loomis and the VFW in Holdrege. In the past years, he enjoyed attending the Evangelical Free Church in Loomis.

Besides his parents and his wife, Jolley, Phillip was preceded in death by his daughter, Peggy Finch; three brothers: Ivan Gitchel and his wife, Marvel, Milo Gitchel and his wife, Norma and Melvin Gitchel and his wife, Louise; one sister, Vivian Clark and her husband, Owen; and brother-in-law, Leo Gibson.

He is survived by his special friend, Doris Nanfito of Holdrege; son, Loren Gitchel and his wife, Connie of Ft. Collins, Colorado; one daughter, Ella Olson and her husband, Jeff of Black Hawk, Colorado; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one sister, Virginia Gibson of Abilene, Kansas; brother-in-law, David Williams of Denver, Colorado; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 13, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the American Lung Association.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.