Nikkel, Royce (1958-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Aug 13 p. 3

Birth date: 1958

text of obituary:

BOY BITTEN BY RABID DOG AFTERWARD CHOKES TO DEATH ON TOY BALLOON

Corn, Okla. — A double tragedy struck the Menno Nikkels here — the first necessitating anti-rabies shots for 6-year-old Royce and his mother, and the second resulting in Royce's death.

On July 20, a stray dog which the family had befriended bit Royce, Mrs. Nikkel sucked the wound and administered first aid. Several days later the dog became ill and died. A veterinary who was called to examine the dog found that he had been infected with rabies.

On July 29, on the way home from Clinton where both she and Royce had been taking a series of anti-rabies treatments, Mrs. Nikkel noticed that the boy began to cough and that he had inhaled the toy balloon with which he had been playing. Aided by a passerby Mrs. Nikkel rushed Royce to the Cordell hospital where doctors quickly tried to extricate the balloon from the boy's windpipe, but he had already passed away.

Funeral services were held at the Corn M. B. Church, Sunday afternoon, Aug. 2, conducted by Rev. Woodrow Pybas, Carthage, Mo., Rev. Ira Eyster, Tulsa, Rev. Carroll Walters, and Rev. Albert Epp.