Samuel Edward Sterkel, 90, of Loveland, Colo., died on April 18, 2016, at Mirasol Green House Homes in Loveland.  He was born in his home of 73 years in Berthoud, Colo., to John and Kathryn (Wildt) Sterkel.

Sam married Dorothy Jean Schleuger on Sept. 5, 1948, and were married for 64 years until her death on May 20, 2012.

Sam was a very hard worker who loved farming and caring for all his animals. He also worked at Hewlett Packard for a number of years and retired to return to farming.

Sam was a lifelong and very active member of First Congregational Church in Loveland.

He loved spending time with his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Our father made a lot of fun for us and always had a good word of advice and a very good sense of humor.

Sam is survived by his daughters; Judy Bernard and husband Mike of Loveland, Shirley Sterkel of Berthoud, Esther Balstad and husband Eric of Longmont; grandsons Trenton Balstad of Denver and Travis Balstad and fiancee Ashley of Loveland; granddaughters Terri Farias and husband Phillip and Jackie Brunacci and husband Jeff all of Loveland; great grandchildren Alexandra and Cameron Farias and Jacob and Jordan Brunacci all of Loveland.

He is preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his mother and father; John and Kathryn, and family of eight sisters, five brothers and two infant babies.

Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m., Thursday April 21, 2016, at First Congregational Church in Loveland. Visitation was from 3-5 p.m., Wednesday at Kibbey Fishburn Funeral Home in Loveland. Interment will follow services at Berthoud Greenlawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church in care of Kibbey Fishburn Funeral Home.