Shirley Jean (Gifford) Fickel Hoag

Shirley Jean (Gifford) Fickel Hoag

Fairfield

Shirley Jean (Gifford) Fickel Hoag, 90, formerly of Fairfield and Washington, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023, in Davenport. Services will be held on Wednesday, March 8, at Snyder and Hollenbaugh in Muscatine, Iowa. Visitation is at 4:00 p.m. Memorial service at 5:30 p.m. followed by a time for food and fellowship until 8:00 p.m. in the S&H community room.

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, IA 52761. Please visit www.sandhfuneralservice.com for her full obituary or to send online condolences to the family.

Shirley was born January 25, 1932, in Drury Township (Rock Island Co), Illinois, the daughter of Herbert and Mattie (Bowser) Gifford. She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1950. Shirley was united in marriage to Robert W. Fickel of Fairfield on August 2, 1953. He preceded her in death in 1996. She married Ralph E. Hoag in 1999. He also preceded her in death in 2021.

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.

Shirley belonged to several clubs including the Grandview-Letts Lions Club. She served on the board of the Louisa Co Farm Bureau. She was active in the Letts and Washington United Methodist Churches where she taught Sunday school. Shirley 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, Madeline, Emily 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 (Fickel) Korseberg (Washburn, WI) and Esther Fickel (Washington, IA); brothers-in-law formerly of Fairfield, 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.