Hinkle, Alex, Sept. 28, 1925-.Sept 23, 2010 Scottsbluff Star Herald Scottsbluff, NE 28 Sep 2010 Alex Hinkle, 84, of Gering, formerly of Scottsbluff, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, at Heritage Estates in Gering. His funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Zion Evangelical Church, with Pastor Garry Schick officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery with military graveside rites provided by the Nebraska National Guard. Memorials in his name may be made to the Nebraska West Diabetes Association or to Prairie Haven Hospice. Friends who wish may call at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday prior to the funeral service. His obituary may be viewed online at www.jollifffefuneralhome.com where online condolences may be made. Alex was born Sept. 28, 1925 in Scottsbluff, to Henry and Anna (Schilling) Henkel. At an early age, he moved with his family to Colorado, and at the age of five they moved to Huntley, Wyo., where he attended Goshen County Schools. He served in the United States Army in Germany during World War Two and returned to the United States in 1945. In August of 1945, he went to Japan and served until April 26, 1946. He was married to Freda Teresa Dittenber on Dec. 1, 1946, in Scottsbluff, and the couple lived in Scottsbluff their entire married lives. He was employed as a truck driver for P.I.E., L.T.X., Briggs and Northwest trucking companies for a combination of forty years until his retirement in 1988. During his working years, he always took his vacation time in the fall and drove beet trucks for family members during many harvest seasons. He was a lifelong member of the Zion Evangelical Church, was a proud and lifetime member of the American Teamsters Union, and was a member of V.F.W., Admiral Dewey Post #1681, the Gering Eagles Lodge and the Panhandle Senior's Golf League. Alex was truly a family man, enjoying his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, attending all of their sporting events and encouraging each and every one of them. He was also a grandpa to all of his family's friends, and virtually knew no "strangers." Alex was an avid Nebraska "Husker" fan and loved football Saturday in Nebraska. He loved to decorate both his home and his yard with Husker memorabilia. Survivors include his children Linda (Lyle) Hoke of Scottsbluff; Roger (Jeannine) Hinkle of San Diego, Calif.; Dianna (Don) Daiss of Orlando, Fla.; Sandra (George) Gillette of Torrington, Wyo.; Jeff (Martha) Hinkle of Kenosha, Wis. and Paulette (Dennis) Thomas of Alliance; brother, Ben Henkel of California and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, eight step great-grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter. His parents; wife Freda; three sisters; a brother; half brother; three half sisters and numerous step brothers and step sisters preceded Alex in death.