Fred H. Scheele
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Fred Henry Scheele was born on August 7, 1947, to Fredrick and Arlene (Otto) Scheele in York, Nebraska. He grew up and lived nearly his entire life on the family farm his great-grandfather homesteaded. He began building his wealth of farming knowledge from a very young age. After graduating from Utica High School, he became a certified mechanic at the Denver Automotive Institute and enlisted in the Army Reserves, joining the 295th Ordnance Company as it deployed to Chu Lai during the Vietnam War. After returning to Nebraska, he met Kristi Harris at a wedding dance and after a whirlwind courtship, they married February 8, 1974. During the first two years of their marriage, they lovingly restored the Scheele family home that was built by J. Henry Scheele in 1893, where they raised their three children—Karla, Kevin, and Kyle.
Fred was a natural born engineer, able to fix anything and create tools to solve any problem. He took pride not only in his work on the farm, but also in the many projects he helped his children complete on their houses and business venues. Fred quietly built many lasting business and personal relationships in his community, never “wanting to keep you” but somehow finding a way to continue the conversation further. He loved his grandchildren—Rachel, Chloe, and Henry—fiercely and delighted in being “Papa” to them. Fred’s family was the center of his world, and he lived his devotion to them through his actions. Fred and Kristi were partners in work and in life, doing everything from cruising the Danube to driving grain trucks to the elevator together.
Fred died December 9, 2021, in the place he loved best—his family home on his family farm. Fred is survived by his wife, Kristi (Harris) Scheele of Waco, daughter Karla Scheele of Elkhorn, NE, son Kevin (Katie) Scheele of Waco, son Kyle Scheele (Jodi Wylie) of Richardson, TX, and grandchildren Rachel, Chloe, and Henry Scheele of Waco. He is also survived by his sister Mary (Hal) Cummins of Waco, brother-in-law Scott (Jolyn) Harris of Palmyra, NE, and five nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in York, with the Reverend Trudy Hanke officiating and Utica Lodge #96 A.F. & A.M. conducting Masonic funeral rites. Burial with military honors will follow in the Utica Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, with family greeting friends from 6:00-7:30 p.m. that same evening at Metz Mortuary in York. Memorials may be directed to the Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, NE, or Centennial Public School Backpack Program in Utica.
“In love and kindness for our immunocompromised friends and family, we request that masks be worn at the service.” – Fred’s family
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.
Fred was a natural born engineer, able to fix anything and create tools to solve any problem. He took pride not only in his work on the farm, but also in the many projects he helped his children complete on their houses and business venues. Fred quietly built many lasting business and personal relationships in his community, never “wanting to keep you” but somehow finding a way to continue the conversation further. He loved his grandchildren—Rachel, Chloe, and Henry—fiercely and delighted in being “Papa” to them. Fred’s family was the center of his world, and he lived his devotion to them through his actions. Fred and Kristi were partners in work and in life, doing everything from cruising the Danube to driving grain trucks to the elevator together.
Fred died December 9, 2021, in the place he loved best—his family home on his family farm. Fred is survived by his wife, Kristi (Harris) Scheele of Waco, daughter Karla Scheele of Elkhorn, NE, son Kevin (Katie) Scheele of Waco, son Kyle Scheele (Jodi Wylie) of Richardson, TX, and grandchildren Rachel, Chloe, and Henry Scheele of Waco. He is also survived by his sister Mary (Hal) Cummins of Waco, brother-in-law Scott (Jolyn) Harris of Palmyra, NE, and five nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in York, with the Reverend Trudy Hanke officiating and Utica Lodge #96 A.F. & A.M. conducting Masonic funeral rites. Burial with military honors will follow in the Utica Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, with family greeting friends from 6:00-7:30 p.m. that same evening at Metz Mortuary in York. Memorials may be directed to the Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, NE, or Centennial Public School Backpack Program in Utica.
“In love and kindness for our immunocompromised friends and family, we request that masks be worn at the service.” – Fred’s family
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.