Marine Corporal David Leon Fickel, born November of 1980, in Ottumwa, Iowa, beloved son of Dennis Fickel and Robin Aanden; beloved brother of Haley and Caitlin.
David moved to Litchfield, Minnesota and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1999.
David served with the United States Marine Corps from 1999 until his discharge in 2003. When he came back to Litchfield in 2003 after his tours in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf, he couldn’t shake the memories of sick and maimed children he’d seen overseas. He had confessed to family members that his unit had fired on civilians, a fact that constantly troubled him, said his mom, Robin Aanden.
“He had changed from being a happy, fun-loving, really outgoing person into being more quiet and thoughtful,” Aanden adds. “He was very angry, a clean freak and uptight when he returned home. He was not the same kid.”
David enjoyed sports, history and loved children and animals. He was a member of the Nelsan-Horton American Post # 104.
David is survived by his parents Dennis Fickel of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Robin and Mitch Aanden of Litchfield, MN; sisters Haley Gene Fickel of Litchfield and Caitlin Emily Fickel of Litchfield; grandparents Glenn and Joanne McCuen of Ottumwa, Iowa, Dean and Marge Fickel of Council Bluffs, Iowa and John and Arlene Aanden of Herman, MN. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Robb E. Leon Jr.
Cpl David Leon Fickel lost his battle with PTS, May 29, 2006, in Litchfield, Minnesota. He was 25 years old.