Roland Dwaine Sterkel

Roland Dwaine Sterkel, 63, of Mitchell died in his home Saturday May 31, 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2008 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor James Green officiating. The family requests that casual attire be worn. Interment will be in West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Roland was born August 28, 1944 at Northport, NE to Fred W. Sr. and Anna (Dobrinski) Sterkel. He grew up on farms in the Torrington, Hawk Springs and Morrill areas. He worked for Great Western Sugar Company, the City of Scottsbluff Sanitation Department for 14 years and the Scotts Bluff County Department of Roads for 24 ½ years until ill health forced his retirement. Roland married Jana Potts October 21, 1972 in Scottsbluff and to this union 2 children were born, Roland Dwaine April 3, 1973 and Jennifer Lynn October 5, 1976. Roland enjoyed hunting, fishing, listening to Husker football, gardening, attending garage sales on Saturday mornings, collecting antiques, old lamps and guns. Roland is survived by his wife Jana of 35 years; son Ron and his fiancé Trish McNally of Gering, daughter Jennifer of Mitchell, grandchildren: James Johnson, Kaleigh Johnson, Cleveland Burnett, Xavier Burnett and Harlee Sterkel; brothers: Edward (Carol) Dobrinski and Floyd Sterkel all of Scottsbluff, Larry (Colleen) Sterkel of Gering; sisters: Virginia Fleck, Torrington, WY, Shirley (Norm) Feigel, Cheyenne, WY, Linda (J. P.) Baker of Broomfield, CO; brothers-in-law: Rod (Debi) Potts, Fort Collins, CO, Roger (Rose) Potts of Arizona and Ed Cleays of Scottsbluff; sister-in-law: Lorrie (Robert) Jacobs, Holyoke, CO and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, two brothers, Fred, Jr. and Donnie Sterkel and two sisters, Betty Benzel and Dorothy Cleays.