Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Gerald Patrick Barkell

Gerald Patrick Barkell, 62, of Lodgepole, Nebraska passed away on May 11, 2020, from complications of cancer.

Gerald was born to Larry and Joyce Barkell on November 23, 1957, in Kimball, Nebraska. He lived most of his life in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, and most recently in Lodgepole, Nebraska.

Gerald is survived by his parents, Larry and Joyce Barkell, brother Wade (Liz), sister Lynn (Steve), his children Trisha, Katie, Ruger, Tanner, his partner Summer Mardis; 12 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, two uncles (Mel and Jim), one aunt (Janet), and one nephew (Jeff).

He was preceded in death by infant daughter Amber Nicole.

Gerald, or JR, as many knew him by, never met a stranger that stayed a stranger for long and will be remembered for his mechanical abilities as he could fix anything. His passion was participating in tractor pulls. He was a member of the Platte Valley Truck and Tractor Pullers for which he dedicated much of his time in the summer. At the time of his death, he was a truck driver for KRZ Trucking.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been set up at Points West Bank (308-875-2215) under the Gerald Barkell Memorial.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.