Nicole Marie Gembala 1988-2009

PFC Nicole Marie Gembala 20, Waynesville, Mo., formerly of Lincoln and North Platte, Neb., died Sunday (4/26/09) near Lynchburg, Mo. as the result of an auto accident. Nicole was born November 1, 1988 in Lincoln, Neb. to Mitchell Todd and Yvette Marie Sitzman Gembala. She grew up in Florida and in 2004 the family moved back to Lincoln. Nicole graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 2006 and then attended Curtis Agricultural College in Curtis, Neb. On February 8, 2007 Nicole joined the U.S. Army Reserves and went active duty on August 8, 2007. She served a year in Korea and returned to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. where she was a Supply Specialist. Nicole loved her family, animals, was always joking and could cheer you up. She will be deeply missed and was a guardian angel to her sister.
Nicole is survived by her mother and stepfather, Yvette and Robert Fensler, III of North Platte; her father, Mitchell Gembala, Adams, Neb.; her sister, Kindra Roseanne Gembala, North Platte; her brother, Gage Dawson Gembala, Adams; her grandparents, Richard and Becky Barrett; Clarice Wienke, all of Firth; great grandmother, Ardith Wright, Lincoln; step-grandparents, Carolynne and Robert Fensler, Jr., Cotopaxi, Colo.; step great-grandmother, Arlaine Fensler, Canon City, Colo.; her fiance, Nicholas James Lake, Waynesville, Mo.; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Ernest Gembala; an uncle, Jon Gembala; and step grandfathers, Fred Wilken and Edward Wienke.
Funeral service 11 a.m. Friday (5/1/09) at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore in North Platte, with Chaplain Terry Cook officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery south of Maxwell, Neb. A memorial has been established for the retired military dogs at Fort Leonard Wood. Visitation is 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and before service time at Odean Colonial Chapel