Richard Fickel

Richard Dean Fickel, one of five children of Hugh Nelson Fickel and Edna Teresa (Solberg) Fickel, was born September 4, 1922 at Hastings, Iowa. In 1923, the family moved to Malvern, Iowa where his father worked as a mechanic for Salyers Auto. In 1933, the family moved to a house at 801 Kearney Avenue which would eventually become Richard's life long home. Richard's parents decided to go into business for themselves and in 1936 built the Cross Roads Garage, a general repair shop and filling station located north of Malvern.
Richard graduated from the Malvern High School in 1940 and was a member of the Malvern United Methodist Church. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in Waco, Texas where he served as a flight-line mechanic during WWII. In 1946, he returned to Malvern and worked at the family business. The Cross Roads Garage continued to gain the confidence of its customers and was recognized as one of Iowa's finest repair garages. In 1975, Richard and brother Ron became co-owners of Cross Roads Garage. Richard was faithful to the garage and took great joy in his career. He will be remembered for his tireless and selfless dedication to his customers who respected his mechanical talents, hard work ethic, and integrity. Richard continued to work until the fall of 2003 when declining health forced him to enter the Red Oak Rehabilitation and Care Center. While in Red Oak, he continued to strive for improved health hoping to return to his home and business.
Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, driving the roads of southwest Iowa, and reading outdoors magazines. He cherished the memories of journeys with his friend Gerald "Pete" Leu. They made numerous trips to Wyoming to hunt deer and antelope.
Richard died at the Center on April 25, 2004 at the age of 81 years, 7 months, and 21 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law Roger Shaw, Wayne Hilton, and Lee Stribling, infant great nephew Alan Lynn Shaw and great nephew Clint Hilton.
Richard is survived by his brother Ronald Fickel of Malvern and sisters Arlene Hilton of Malvern, Betty Stribling of Shenandoah, Iowa, and Rose Marie Shaw of Red Oak, Iowa, nieces and nephews.