Lola Mae McNickle, 97, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, passed away December 23, 2023 in Gothenburg.
Lola was born outside of Huntley, Nebraska on December 4, 1926 to Roy and Pearl (Blickenstaff) Howsden at the family home on the “Old Tillitson Place.” She attended school in Huntley and graduated from there with the class of 1945. After High School she worked in Orleans and Alma prior to a whirlwind courtship by her first husband and father of five children, Paul F. Dietz. Paul and Lola were married April 6, 1946. Lola and Paul started and raised their family in the Alma and Orleans area before settling in Gothenburg. Paul passed away April 5, 1967.
Lola married Dale McNickle in March of 1970 and made their home in Farnam, Nebraska where they farmed and ranched. They moved to North Platte in 1992 for retirement. Upon Dale’s passing she moved to Gothenburg. Lola was a rock through life’s ups and downs and loved her entire family. She was an avid Husker fan enjoying trips to football games for years and watching basketball and volleyball. She loved her garden where picking weeds helped her to work out her frustrations. She loved cooking, baking bread and birthday cakes. Card games with family and friends, puzzles and reading kept her entertained. Always a practical joker, she loved the “short sheet prank.” She loved animals especially her horses on the farm. A very clean house with everything in its place made her very happy. Lola was easy to visit with and made many friends in the places she lived.
Lola was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Paul and Dale, and infant son Matthew McNickle. Sister Lois Olive; brothers, Loyd Howsden, Lee Howsden; and son-in-law, Bill Thomalla.
She is survived by sons, Paul (Linda) Dietz of Lincoln, NE; Larry (Sandie) Dietz of Fort Collins, CO; Delbert Dietz of Corpus Christi, TX; Carl (Carol) Dietz of Kearney, NE; a daughter, Rita Thomalla (Denny Horst) of Gothenburg; and sister-in-law, Margie Howsden of Alma, NE. 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Step daughters Geraldine (Larry) Adler, Bev (Del) VanDerWerff, and their families. Also, special friends Betty Marquardt and George. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Gothenburg Senior Center meals on wheels program.
Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Friday, December 29, 2023, 1:00 pm - 7 pm. with family present from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
Services will be held at American Lutheran Church, December 30, 2023 at 10:30 am with Pastor Doug Hjelmstad officiating. Interment will follow in the Orleans Cemetery, Orleans, Nebraska.