Eldon Schinkel

Eldon Schinkel, 65 Kearney resident Eldon Schinkel, 65, of Kearney died Monday, March 30, 2015 at his rural home. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2015 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Rev. Duane Duley officiating. Interment will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Honors Team in conjunction with the North Platte Honors Team. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home. Memorials can be made to the family to be donated to a charity at a later date. Condolences may be share at www.osrfh.com. Arrangements by O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. He was born Dec. 9, 1949, in Sherman County to Edwin and Martha (Luebbe) Schinkel. Eldon attended grade school at District 19 and Rockville in Sherman County and was a 1968 graduate of Ravenna High School. Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1970, he attended Peru State College. After serving in the Marine Corp until 1973, he enlisted in Nebraska Air National Guard in 1981 and served his country, state and community until 2000 when he was discharged at the rank of MSGT (E7). During his 25 years of military service, he completed several deployments in the United States, Okinawa and several European countries During his career, he was employed at Caldwell Manufacturing, Chesterman Coke Cola Distributing, Schwan’s, Walmart and Menards in Kearney. He was currently employed at Mid-State Engineering and Testing in Kearney. Eldon was a lifelong resident of Sherman and Buffalo County. As a youth he was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna and a current member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney. He was a good friend to many and would always help when he saw a friend in need. Survivors include his brother, Paul Schinkel, and sisters, Elnida Chandler and her husband Dale of Pleasanton, Karen Krajnik and her husband, Gil, of Malcolm and Janis Keller of Martinsburg; nephews, Chris Chandler of Kearney, Neal Chandler and his wife, Lauri, of Pleasanton, Todd Chandler of the U. S. Air Force, stationed in Florida, Nick Krajnik and his wife, Vicki, of Raymond, Garrett Schinkel of Kearney, and John Keller and Joshua Keller of Martinsburg ; nieces, Julie Strate and her husband, Caleb, of Lincoln, Kelly Grotzinger and her husband, Todd, of Lincoln; Ivy Lux and her husband Tony, of Kearney, Celia Schinkel of Lincoln, and Raine Schinkel of Denison, Texas, Haley Keller of Lincoln, his aunt, Jeanette Carstens, of Ravenna and eleven grand nieces and nephews and many cousins. Eldon also had many special friendships including Melinda King and her family. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Scott Keller.

Eldon Schinkel

December 9, 1949 - March 30, 2015