Gladys Hamel

Hastings resident, Gladys I. Hamel, 86, passed away Sunday, June 23, 2013 at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village, Hastings, Nebraska.

Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia, Kansas, in a private ceremony. A Memorial Tree Fund has been established in her name at Prairie Loft Center of Outdoor and Agricultural Learning, P.O. Box 1731, Hastings, Nebraska, 68902. There will be no viewing or visitation.

Gladys was born October 27, 1926, in Concordia, Kansas, the youngest child of Chester Clyde Wagner and Ida Irene Bartlett. A 1945 graduate of Concordia Senior High, Gladys married William H. Hamel in 1948. The couple had meet on a blind date and married after William returned from service in World War II. The couple relocated to Dodge City, Kansas, and later lived and worked in Wichita, Kansas; Tecumseh, Nebraska; and Marysville, Kansas. William preceded Gladys in death in 1998. Gladys worked for Southwestern Bell for 13 years and retired from Marysville Public Schools in 1988. In 2000, Gladys moved to Hastings to be closer to her immediate family. Known as a kind, caring, happy soul, Gladys was quick with a joke and loved family and friends dearly. Throughout her life she enjoyed bowling, reading, playing cards and bingo, and the music of Kenny Rogers.

Gladys was preceded in death by her siblings, Morvin, Mildred, Robert, Bennie, Fred and Doris.

Survivors include:
Son: Harold W. Hamel (Lisa Smith) - Hastings, NE
Grandchildren: Nathan Hamel (Haley Bush) - Lincoln, NE
Sarah (Mark) Canada - Hastings, NE
Avery Smith - Hastings, NE