Sheldon Spickelmier

AURORA, Colo. — Sheldon “Doc” W. Spickelmier, 82 of Curtis, Nebraska passed away on April 7, 2026, at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Hospital in Aurora, Colo., after a two year battle with a spinal cord injury.

Sheldon was born to Lester “Buck” and June (Kannow) on July 13, 1943, at the St. Cathrines Hospital in McCook, Neb. He was the second of four children.

During his childhood he lived in rural southwest Frontier County where he attended District 91 grade school. The family later moved to Red Willow across the street from the school. Sheldon attended Red Willow aka (Republican Valley), where he played football, basketball and track graduating with the class of 1962. After high school he worked as a boat mechanic and other jobs. In 1967, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He attended basic training in Ft. Bliss, Texas, and then to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., for AIT training. They built and torn down bridges over the river at night to prepare for the Vietnam War. He got come home for 13 days before he was shipped out to serve in the Vietnam War front lines for one year. He landed in Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, and served as a Combat Engineer in the DMZ, which was the border between North and South Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1969.

Upon returning from the Vietnam War in 1969 he worked on the farm for Bud Lashley of Curtis, Neb. In 1970, he worked for Jim Crow running a dozer, which began his lifelong career as a dozer operator. In 1973, BSB Construction (Bud, Sheldon, Ben) was formed with his lifelong best friend Bud Lashley and Ben Lashley. In 1973, he purchased his first dozer, a D6B from Martin Caterpillar in Concordia, Kan..

Doc moved to Curtis in 1997 from his long-term home at Red Willow. He has done dozer work in all of southwest Nebraska and locations beyond over the years. Dozing is what Doc was most known for. He also had a passion for antique tractor and watching a good rodeo.

He was preceded in death by his parents: brother Wes Spickelmier.

He is survived by his sisters Janet (Ray) Grenier and Linda (Kim) Gardner, sister-in-law Ilene Spickelmier and a special cousin Russ Spickelmier, and his “adopted daughters” Dana (Jeff) Lueth, Dora (Kris) Schaffert that have cared for him to the end, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held Monday, April 13, 2026, at from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p,.m. at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel, 315 Center Avenue Curtis, Neb., 69025.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:30 a.m. at the Curtis Methodist Church in Curtis, Neb., with Kort Kemp officiating.

Burial with military honors will follow at Curtis Cemetery in Curtis, Neb.

Memorials may be made to the Frontier County Ambulance Service, Paralyzed Veterans of America “PVA” or the Curtis American Legion Post 95.

Online condolences can be made at www.blasestrauser.com.

Funeral arrangements were trusted to Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel & Monuments, 317 Center Ave Curtis, Neb., 69025, (308) 367-4177.