Dr. Derek L. Shickell
August 09, 2010
Dr. Derek L. Shickell, 42, was carried to heaven in the arms of Jesus on August 9, 2010. Services for Dr. Shickell will be held at Valley Evangelical Free Church, 4343 Fuller Road, West Des Moines. A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 12 from 6 to 8 pm and the funeral service will be on Friday, August 13 at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow the burial at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines.
Dr. Shickell was born in Denver, CO, the son of Fred and Charlyn (Frahm) Shickell on January 12, 1968. He attended Tri-County Schools in DeWitt, NE for K-9th grade where his father, Dr. Fred Shickell was Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Shickell is a graduate of East High School in Lincoln, NE. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. He holds a Master's Degree from the Chicago Medical School in Medical Radiation Physics, and completed a three month Physics internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha, NE with a Doctor of Medicine Degree. He completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and was Board certified in Radiation Oncology. He was on staff at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for four years in the Radiation Oncology Department and was currently on staff at Mercy Cancer Center Radiation Oncology, Des Moines, Iowa.
Derek was an amazing and devoted son, husband and father and lived his life for the Lord. He was a compassionate and caring Radiation Oncologist at Mercy Cancer Center and previously at Mayo Clinic. There are no words to describe his kindness and caring.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Gwendolen; children, John and Abigail Ryan, Hannah Shickell; parents, Drs. Fred and Charlyn Shickell of Lincoln, NE; grandmothers, Rose Frahm of Ceresco, NE and Marion Knoll of Burt, IA; sister, Dana (Criss) Butler of Omaha, NE; parents-in-law, Roger and Linda Tjarks of Titonka, IA; brother-in-law, Travis Tjarks of Buffalo Center, IA; nephews, Seth, Caleb and Ethan Butler, Jared and Jacob Tjarks. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Makayla Claire; grandparents, William and Ethel Shickell and LeRoy Frahm.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Mercy Cancer Center or to his children’s college fund. Online condolences may be made at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Mark and Joy Peterson
08/11/2010
Gwen...we are so sorry for your loss. I know he was a kind and loving man. He will certainly be missed. Please know that you will forever be in our thoughts and continued friendship.
May God surround you during this difficult times. We Love You all.
Dale and Carol Butler
08/11/2010
We were shocked and sadden to hear about Derek. So well educated with a bright future...always in awe when around him. You have our deepest sympathy.
Vicky Wilson
08/11/2010
I was so saddened to learn of the passing of your husband and father. May memories of happy family times remain with you always.
Vicky Wilson (Abby's first grade teacher)
SueAnn (Arntt) Wanklyn
08/11/2010
So very sorry to hear about Derek! Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Memories will give you comfort as you celebrate his life and the love that was shared.
Jennifer Griffin
08/11/2010
It is with a sad and heavy heart I write to you to send my sympathy to the family of Derrick. What a terrible loss you are going through to have your beloved taken so soon.
Derrick and I were in Theatre together at Lincoln East High School. He was such an sweet, funny, and uplifting person.
Derrick was always my hero, but he really came through for me in our senior year. Derrick took me to our senior prom. You see, my date had to cancel just says before the big night. As any teenage girl can agree, my life was over. Yet, there was Derrick calling on the phone asking if he could take me. I will always be grateful for the kindness he showed me . Derrick managed to turn my disaster into a great memory making night. We got soaked on our walk back from the dance to the car, but we had many a good laugh at ourselves.
It has been far too many years since I last saw Derrick. We ran into one another at St. Elizabeth's Hospital where he comforted me over the illness of my Father. Always giving of himself, his time and compassion is how I will think of him.
To his loved ones my deepest sympathies. May you find comfort in your memories.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Griffin ( Jennifer Eberly)
Lincoln East Class of 1986
Jannette Reece Hutchison
08/11/2010
Dear Fred and Charlyn,
I just heard the news of the passing of your wonderful young son.
What an amazing life he lived in such a short time. I am sure he was greatly loved by you and his family and this is a terrible loss
for all of you.
His accomplishments as a doctor showed his great upbringing and his committment to God.
I know you were both great joys in his life. My prayers and my love reach out to you.May God wrap his arms around you and your family.
Much Love, Jannette Reece Hutchison.
Wanda Schneider sent me an e-mail letting me know about this sadness
I am so glad she did.
Bob Henrichs
08/11/2010
Dear Family of Derek's,
I was a friend and fellow Thespian with Derek at Lincoln East. I was so shocked when I heard about Derek's death today. My most heartfelt sympathies go out to you.
Derek was an amazing guy. He was always upbeat, even after his accident in high school that was so painful for him. He was always so upbeat and always laughed at my jokes!
Please know that I and the others in Spartan Theatre share in your loss. Derek always lived the Thespian creed: Act well your part; there all the honor lies.
God Bless,
Bob Henrichs
LEHS Class of '86
Carol (Wollenburg) Meyer
08/11/2010
I read in the newspaper today of the passing of your precious son, Derek, and am so sorry for your loss. I will include you in thought and prayer for strength and peace during this difficult time.
connie
08/11/2010
Gwen,I am a friend, of Heathers from Rochester our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Bryon,Connie,Alyssa,Nicole and BreAnn Buege
Vipin Bhavsar
08/11/2010
Our Prayers are with you and God give enough courage to family to withstand loss of dear one.
Margie & Del Westphal
08/11/2010
Gwen,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm not sure if we have met but we are very close friends of your mom and dad and they talk of you often.
God be with you during this time of sorrow.
Margie & Del Westphal
Minnetrista, Minnesota
Bambi Byers
08/11/2010
My condolences to the Shickell family. What an amazing man! He saved my husband's life and has lost his own. God Bless your family, I cannot believe that God was ready for him so soon, but then again I can see why- he was a wonderful, caring, compassionate doctor and my husband and I will be forever grateful for what he has done for us.
You are in our thoughts and prayers, God Bless
Marc, Bambi Byers and Family
M. Boesen
08/11/2010
Dear Mrs. Shickell and family, I cannot tell you how saddened I was to read of Dr. Shickell's passing. My brother Matt was under his care and he would often tell the story that when Dr. Shickell walked into his hospital room for the first time,Matt told him he was an angel sent from God. And he was. I hope you are comforted to know that your angel on earth, is now an angel in heaven. God bless you all.
Toni & Erik Swee
08/11/2010
May memories of the laughter and love you shared bring you peace now and always.
Christy Smith - GRMC
08/11/2010
May God comfort you in this difficult time. You will all be in our prayers.