Eugene Ralph "Gene" Rickel

Eugene Ralph “Gene” Rickel, 82, of Kokomo, passed away at 5:18 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at his home.  He was born September 17, 1939, in Ashland, Ohio, to Harry Clifford and Louisa Maye (Beech) Rickel.  On January 1, 1980, he married Nyona Dianne Casbon White, in Kokomo, and she survives.

Gene served in the United States Air Force as an aircraft technician/budget analyst at Grissom Air Force Base, attaining the rank of Tech Sergeant and retiring after 20 years on May 31, 1977.  He went on to serve in the Civil Service as a budget analyst and disaster preparedness technician for the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base for 23 years, retiring on January 1, 2004.  Gene loved bowling and participated in over twenty national tournaments and many local and state tournaments.  He served as the first president of the Miami County USBC Bowling Association.  He also loved fishing, especially the many vacations in Michigan fishing for salmon, and enjoyed watching nesting eagles in the local area and collecting bald eagle figurines.

In addition to his wife, Dianne Rickel, survivors include his daughters, Kimberly Boswell, Hawesville, Kentucky, and Tracy Rickel, Tell City; son, Gregory A. Rickel, Evansville; step-daughters, Bobbi (Jerry Martin) Bougher, Kokomo, Kelly Januzik, Westfield, Beth (Jerry) Parker, Westfield, and Jonda (Nicholas) Manwell, Marion; grandchildren, Fawn (Jason) Carrico, Hainsville, Kentucky, Matthew Martin, Hawesville, Kentucky, Gregory W. Rickel, Tell City, and Jessica (Dustin) Rogers, Evansville; step-grandchildren, Monica (Charles) Rybolt, Kokomo, Ashley Januzik, Thousand Oaks, California, Christopher (Arlette Agati) Januzik, Tempe, Arizona, Erika (Jason) Smyser, Fishers, Benjamin Manwell, Marion, and Simon Manwell, Marion; great-grandchildren, Alyssa Salamone, Hainsville, Kentucky, Russell Carrico, Hainesville, Kentucky, Ava Schupp, Evansville, Lucian Schupp, Evansville; and step-great-grandchildren, Abbigail Rybolt, Kokomo, Dominic Rybolt, Kokomo, Seth Smyser, Fishers, Malcolm Smyser, Fishers, and Calvin Smyser, Fishers; sister, Harriet Rickel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Amelia Bailey; and a grandson, Mark Alan Martin.

Special thanks to Dr. Eric Tuchscherer for many years of treatment and to Elara Hospice for their care – Cathy, Pepper, Bethany and Richard.

No services will be held at Gene’s request.  Inurnment will take place at a later date in Marion National Cemetery.  Cremation has been entrusted to Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes & Crematory in Kokomo.  Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.