Mike Hotchkiss

Terry Michael Hotchkiss passed away May 27, 2025 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska. Mike was born April 7, 1966 in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Mike was raised by Frank and Ester Tripe, Floyd and Wanda Schroeder and his father, Ron Hotchkiss. He attended and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1984 and went on to attend Chadron State College from the Fall of 1986 through the Spring of 1987.

Mike was united in marriage to Jeanette Sikora on January 2, 2021 in Louisville, Nebraska and settled in Cambridge. Mike dedicated over 30 years to the Emergency Medical Services world, spending the last several years as EMT Chief of Cambridge Rescue Services. He also oversaw the Environmental Health and Safety efforts of Nebraska Corn Processing for most of his 15 years at NCP. Mike was a proud former member of the Phillips Nebraska Fire Department and EMS as well as the Chadron Nebraska Fire Department and EMS.

When Mike wasn’t serving those communities, he enjoyed bowling with his team in Cambridge, Nebraska. He loved to travel; going on cruises was his most recent joy.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Esther Tripe, Floyd and Wanda Schroeder and Ron Hotchkiss; his wife, Gwendolyn Johnson; his son, Stephen Frasier; father-in-law, Timothy Sikora; grandparents, Geneva and Joseph Murer and Glen and Ruth Brandenburg.

Mike is survived by his wife, Jeanette Hotchkiss; his children, Amanda Melhus, Rebecca Hotchkiss and Nick Plevel, Sarah Wall, Jessica and Joe Giammalva, Jeremiah and Olivia Merwin, and Mackenzie Sikora; siblings, Sandi and Gary Groshong, Karen and Rocky Dockweiler, Genny Crawford, David and Susan Murer and Allen and Jenny Kohtz; grandchildren, Jonathan Merwin, Angelina Merwin, Aliyah, Natalie and Bryce Melhus, Maksim Wall and Gianna and Luca Giammalva; mothers-in-laws, Patricia Gillenwater and Joyce Sikora; siblings-in-law, Kevin and Jane Wynn, Bob and Lori Wynn, Mike Sikora, Jodi and Steve Whiting, Tim Wynn, Maria and Paul Fustos and Ryan Sikora; along with so many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Mike are scheduled for June 28, 2025 at 2 PM at the Cambridge High School with Jim Jones officiating. A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held after the memorial service at the Cambridge Community Building.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mike’s name are suggested to the Cambridge Fire and Rescue at 722 Peterson St, Cambridge, NE 69022. Online condolences may be left at lockenour.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge, Nebraska.