Marvin Sterkel

Marvin (Marv) Eugene Sterkel, 83, of Wakefield, NE, passed away on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 in Wayne, Neb. He was born January 23, 1938 in Denver, Colo. to Henry and Pauline (Kaiser) Sterkel. He was commissioned in the United States Navy on August 23, 1955, and honorably discharged on August 22, 1961. He married Karen Joyce Starck on April 24, 1959, and together they raised three daughters. Marv was employed by Gardner Denver for several years and then moved to the countryside. He rounded out his career at Kodak, retiring in 1993. On an acreage outside of Berthoud, Colo., the Sterkel family raised purebred Suffolk sheep and had a few horses. Marv had a true love for the land and enjoyed taking care of the family's animals. He built a shop where he tinkered on his old tractors, cars, pickups, and a few boats through the years. In 2002, Marv moved to Nebraska, near his middle daughter, and thoroughly enjoyed fixing up his place and learning how to cook. He mastered the art of lemon-poppy seed bundt cakes, and spent much of his time hunting for treasures at auctions—a hobby in which he was especially astute. He developed a passion for antiques and reviving old clocks, scales, radios, and other old treasures. His happy place was his shop and, for a season, tending hens. Marv is survived by his three daughters, Sandra Sterkel Flack of Wakefield, Neb., Deborah (Terry) Borg of Allen, Neb. and Victoria (Lance Nelson) Sterkel of Delta, Colo., as well as grandchildren Kolton and Ashton Flack of Sterling Heights, Mich. and Hannah, Heidi and Hunter Borg of Allen, Neb. He is also survived by his brother, Harvey (Lilly) Sterkel of Denver, Colo., and several cousins. Visitation is Saturday, May 29, from 4 pm to 6 pm at the Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, NE. The family will be celebrating Marvin’s life in a private ceremony. Contributions may be made to Providence Medical Center Hospice in Wayne, NE.