Danny E. Hinkel

Danny E. Hinkel, age 70 of Hartington, Nebraska died suddenly on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, South Dakota. Visitation for Dan will be on Thursday, August 15, 2019 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.  No other services are being planned. Danny Eugene Hinkel was born on June 21, 1949 in Pisgah, Iowa to John Albert and Ardith Lucille (Hinkel) Hinkel.  He grew up in Pisgah, Iowa until the age of 10 years and then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.  He joined R.O.T.C. and then was drafted into the Army where he served in Vietnam.  After his service to his country Dan worked in Omaha as a land surveyor.  Dan moved to Hartington to help Hershel & Alice Forinash, at Forinash grocery. Dan married Jeanie Sue Hoskinson on July 13, 1984 in Hartington at the First Congregational United Church of Christ.  Dan began working at Hydraulic Components in Hartington and was appointed as foreman after his first year.  Dan’s career at Hydraulics lasted for 40 years. He was a member of the Hartington VFW Post #5283 and the Hartington American Legion Post #4.  Dan loved to hunt and fish and made many memories on his hunting trips with his uncle and life-long best friend, Rick Hinkel “Uncle Fuzzy”.  Dan enjoyed carpentry and did a lot of the work on his own home and cabin at the Missouri river.  He and Jeanie enjoyed spending many hours refinishing their homes.  Dan taught himself how to play guitar, and music was very important to him.  Many wonderful moments were spent with friends and family by the campfire, playing guitar and playing favorite song requests.  He did a lot of gardening, planting trees and landscaping on his own property through the years.  Dan loved giving people nicknames, including his children and friends. Those that spent time with Dan know that he was so much more than words can express. Dan is survived by his wife Jeanie of Hartington; three children Christine DeBlauw & (Jacob Lewis) of Gayville, SD, Alice (Ted) Miller of St. Helena, NE, Jamie (Scott) Norris of Plainview, NE; five grandchildren Jesse Hinkel, Brittany Hinkel, Brandy Hinkel, Brett Norris, and Paige Norris; two great grandsons Jonny Hinkel, and Jameson Gothier; two sisters Linda Lucille and husband Phil Viets of Watson, MO, Patty Ann King of San Diego, CA; two brothers Dean Hinkel of Onawa, IA, T.J. and wife Kyle Hinkel of Utica, NE; many nieces and nephews. Dan was preceded in death by his parents.