Viola 'Vi' Stickel

Viola (Vi) L. Stickel, 92, Kalamazoo, MI, formerly of Jamestown, ND, died Sunday, January 17, 2021 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with her family by her side.

Viola Eberhardt was born June 7, 1928 in Alfred, ND the daughter of Jacob and Lizzie (Steihar) Eberhardt.  She attended the local school and remained on the family’s farm in until 1946.  She married Jacob (Jake) Stickel on March 24, 1946. Jake and Vi made their home in Windsor, ND until 1949, moving to Jamestown, where they had two daughters, Janice (1950) and Renae (1955).

Vi started working in October 1956 at the Red Owl Grocery in Jamestown, retiring in 1986 and then worked at Farmers Union Insurance in Jamestown alongside her husband before fully retiring in 1997. 

She and Jake were avid fishermen, spent many years attending races at Jamestown Speedway and were members of the Eagles Club.  She and Jake were lifelong congregants of the McCoy Radio Ministries.

Following Jake’s passing in 1999, Vi resided in North Dakota and Michigan.  While in Jamestown, Vi lived with her best friend and brother, Raymond Eberhardt;  where she became another Grandma to the extended Eberhardt family. Vi lived in Portage, MI with her daughter Janice.

Vi enjoyed her grandchildren and extended family, playing bingo, visiting various casinos and family card games. She was an avid CBS television watcher and excellent at solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles.

Viola is survived by her sister, Donna Mae (Henry) Bitz, Port Orchard WA, her  grandchildren: Brady (Rachel) Driver, Sturgis MI, Blake (Julie) Driver, Kentwood, MI, Brandy (Ryan) Manning, Portage MI, Brock Doud, Lexington, KY and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Lizzie Eberhardt, by her siblings: Roland, Raymond, Albert and Donald Eberhardt, Lorraine Brooks and Edna Anderson, and by her husband Jacob Stickel and their children: Renae Stickel and Janice Spaulding

Memorial Service- 11:00 AM Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the Haut Funeral Chapel in Jamestown, ND.

Visitation- 1 hour before the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ave Maria Village of Jamestown.

Interment- Sunset Memorial Gardens in Jamestown.