Ervin Rickels

ERVIN RICKELS

Anamosa

Ervin P. Rickels, 63, died Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Anamosa Care Center following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Anamosa, with interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello. The Rev. Katie Lowe-Lancaster will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are his wife, Dixie; two daughters, Kristi (Mike Grassfield) and Angie Thomas, both of Anamosa; three grandsons, Luther Gilbert, Ryan and Andrew Thomas; two brothers, Marvin (Daisy) Rickels, Monticello, and Gene (Kay) Rickels, Hopkinton; and two sisters, Shirley Lietz and Susan (Roger) Poole, both of Scotch Grove.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jamie; a brother, Larry; and an infant sister.

Ervin Philip Rickels was born Dec. 1, 1951, at John McDonald Hospital, Monticello, Iowa, son of Arthur and Dorthea Antons Rickels. Erv graduated from Monticello Community Schools in 1970. He then farmed with his dad and was a farm hand in the neighborhood.

Ervin married Dixie Taylor on July 24, 1971, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Anamosa. Erv was employed at Julin Printing in Monticello and Walnut Grove 4X4 Feeds. He was the maintenance man and boiler operator at John McDonald Hospital for 12 years and then worked at Anamosa Community Hospital for 11 years, retiring in 2004.

Erv was an avid deer hunter. He also loved to play pool, go fishing, play cards and other games, and tinker in his garage, especially with his John Deere A that he got from his father.