Shirley Jean (Gifford) Fickel Hoag
01/25/1932 -
01/07/2023
Shirley
(Gifford)
Jean
Fickel Hoag

Shirley Jean (Gifford) Fickel Hoag, 90, of Muscatine, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Select Specialty Hospital in Davenport. Services will be held on Wednesday, March 8 at Snyder and Hollenbaugh in Muscatine, Iowa. Visitation is at 4:00 pm. Memorial service at 5:30 pm followed by a time of food and fellowship until 8:00 pm in the S&H community room. Pastor Marsha Gerot will officiate. Burial will be at Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grandview-Letts Lions Club, Letts United Methodist Church or U of Iowa Holden Cancer Research Fund in Shirley’s name or sent to the family c/o Snyder & Hollenbaugh, 2907 Mulberry Ave, Muscatine, Iowa 52761. Please visit www.sandhfuneralservice.com to send online condolences to the family and to check for service updates.

Shirley was born January 25, 1932 in Drury Township (Rock Island Co), Illinois, the daughter of Herbert and Mattie (Bowser) Gifford. She attended rural schools at Wrayville in Drury Twp, Shiloh in Bloomington Twp, and Walnut on Burlington Rd in 76 Twp then graduated from Muscatine High School in 1950. Shirley was united in marriage to Robert W. Fickel on August 2, 1953 at High Prairie Church in Muscatine Co. He preceded her in death in 1996. She married Ralph E. Hoag in 1999 at Letts United Methodist Church. He also preceded her in death in 2021.

Shirley was a dedicated farm partner and homemaker. Before marriage, she worked at US Bakery and was a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Muscatine. Shirley and Robert raised livestock, grain and timber in Iowa. They were tenant farmers in Jefferson and Washington counties then owned and operated farms in Henry and Muscatine counties. Later, she sold insurance and held several office administration positions.

Shirley was a member of the Red Hat Club, Letts Federated Club and Grandview-Letts Lions Club. She served on the boards of the Muscatine Landlord Association and Louisa Co Farm Bureau. She was an active member of the Letts and Washington United Methodist Churches where she taught Sunday school, belonged to the United Methodist Women and played piano. Shirley enjoyed music and traveling. She traveled extensively in the United States and to Switzerland three times to visit family.

Shirley will be deeply missed by her sons: Herbert (Vickie) Fickel of Milan, IL and Gifford (Estella) Fickel of Peoria, IL; grandchildren: Amy Woods, Tori (Eric) Bullock, James Fickel, Madeline Fickel, Emily Fickel and Katherine Fickel; great-grandchildren: Sam and Penny Bullock; and brother, Merle (Mary) Gifford of San Antonio, TX. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law; Marilyn Korseberg (Washburn, WI) and Esther Fickel (Washington, IA) and brothers-in-law; Larry Ranard (Newton, IA) and Melvin (Pete) Crawford (Fort Worth, TX) and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; and brother, Harvey Gifford.

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