Earl W. Fickenscher, 68, of North Platte, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 18, 2012. He died at Perkins Pavilion in Hastings, following a brief illness. His wife, Kathy, was at his side.

He was born in Denver, Colo., on April 13, 1943, to Arthur M. and Erma D. (Franzen) Fickenscher.

Earl was a graduate of Farnam High School. He completed his bachelor's degree at Kearney State College, with a double major in Business and Music education.

He touched so many lives in his time here on earth while teaching music at Alma Public Schools, Curtis-Medicine Valley Elementary and High Schools, Fairmont Public Schools and Overton Public Schools. Earl also had a master's degree in music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in school principalship from Kearney State. Earl went on to obtain his specialist degree in school administration.

He was so proud to walk across the commencement stage to be awarded the first degree issued to a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He served as school superintendent at Petersburg Public School and Paxton.

Earl, his brother Dean, their father and mother, and other family members were proudly involved in Fickenscher's Hilltop Nursery at Moorefield for a number of years.

Earl was a professional musician who directed community choirs and played the piano and organ for weddings and funerals.

He cared a great deal for his church and served as a church organist for St. John's Lutheran in Curtis and Our Redeemer Lutheran in North Platte. He was one of the organizers for the pipe organ renovation fund raising at Our Redeemer.

Earl wed Kathy Sheen, of Kearney, on July 19, 1975. He deeply loved his family, extended family, friends, and poodles.

Survivors include his wife; two children, Andrea (Allen) Smith, and Nathan Fickenscher; loving grandchildren, Jacob, Leslie, Damian, and Khloe; and step-grandson, Cash, all of North Platte; brother, Dean (Carol), of San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Lynette (Kenneth) Beermann, of Hubbard, Connie Fickenscher, of Denton, Texas, and Gwen (Timothy) Davidson, of Hastings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Erma; and numerous aunts and uncles.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Platte. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at the Kearney Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 8:30 am to 8 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, with the family receiving friends from 4-7 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte.

Memorials are suggested to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer's Foundation, or the North Platte Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com.

Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Telegraph, 22 Feb 2012