Wendel "Kyle" Abrams

Wendel "Kyle" Abrams, age 69, of Lodgepole, NE passed away in Sidney, NE on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Kyle's celebration of life will be held Friday, April 26th at 11:00 am at the Lazy S Ranch, 2472 Road 131, Sidney, NE. Please wear your favorite Nebraska Huskers attire to help us celebrate Kyle.

Friends may stop at the Lazy S Ranch on Thursday from 4-6:00 P.M. to sign Kyle's book and visit with family.

You may view Kyle's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Kyle's care and funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to have a perennial, shrub or tree which will be planted at the family's farm. Memorials may be made to the Sidney Wrestling Federation, POB 548, Sidney, NE 69162 or Lodgepole Depot Museum.

Wendel Kyle Abrams was born August 12, 1954 in Sidney, NE. He was the youngest of six children of Wendel Abrams and Lois (Nuzum) Abrams. Kyle attended school in Sidney and graduated in 1972. He then attended the University of Northern Colorado on a wrestling scholarship.

Kyle was an outstanding wrestler and a three-time state champion. He was the first Nebraska high school wrestler to compete and win in international competition. He was inducted into the Nebraska Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986 for his exceptional career.

Kyle met Laurie, the love of his life and partner in crime, in 1977, and they were married on June 30th, 1990. They settled on a small farm north of Lodgepole which they named Abrams' Golden Acres where they raised many golden retrievers. They welcomed their twin daughters, Aspen and Trinity in 1992.

Kyle worked for Cabela's for over 33 years until his retirement in 2019. He was also a dedicated volunteer for the Lodgepole Depot Museum.

From early on, Kyle loved the outdoors. The lake was Kyle and Laurie's happy place, where they spent countless hours going for a cruise on the boat or fishing. Their love of traveling together always led them to the best beaches for shelling. Saturdays in the Fall were spent watching his Nebraska Huskers. His love for Laurie was deeply shown while fixing and stringing lights wherever she pointed, which resulted in a magnificent Christmas light display.

Kyle was known for his easy-going personality, corny sense of humor, and ability to be friends with anyone that he met. He was a natural athlete and excelled at every sport he played, except golf, no matter how hard he tried. He was always up for a game of any kind. Although Kyle's greatest joy was being Grampy to Waylon, Leo, Lyla, and Bristol.

Kyle was preceded in death by his parents, Wendel and Lois Abrams, and father and mother-in-law Dale and Lois Talich.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Laurie; daughters Aspen and husband Tyler Cavalli, Trinity and husband Riley Oliverius, grandchildren, Waylon, Leo, Lyla and Bristol; siblings, Lin and husband Steve Willett, Roger Abrams, Greg and wife Kathy Abrams, Barb Abrams and Eva Bjork, Brent and wife Sharon Abrams; brother-in-law Duane and wife Jo Talich; sisters-in-law Pam and husband Butch Blochowitz, Connie and husband Brent Stoll, Marcia and husband Bob Frerichs, and numerous nieces and nephews and close friends.