Nikkel, Herman (1917-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Oct 31 p. 1

Birth date: 1917

text of obituary:

Auto and Plane Accidents Take Four Lives In Manitoba

ALTONA AND WINKLER YOUNG MEN ARE VICTIMS, TWO OF THEM BROTHERS

Altona, Man. — Four young men of the Winkler and Rosenfeld communities near here lost their lives in two tragic accidents occurring within a space of three days. The victims are Herman Nikkel, 29, and Dave Nikkel, 16, brothers and sons of Mr. and Mrs. Erdman Nikkel of Rosenfeld, who lost their lives in a truck-car accident on Oct. 13, and Abe J. Friesen, 30, of Winkler and George Gardner, 32, of Edmonton who died in the crash of their light airplane.

The Nikkel brothers were front seat passengers in a car driven by Edwin Nickel, son of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Nickel, when it crashed head-on into a truck driven by Henry Harder two miles south of here. They were apparently killed instantly, and both of the other two young men involved were critically injured. Funeral services were held at the Bergthaler church in Altona on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 17.

Funeral services for Abe J. Friesen were held at the Bergthaler church of Winkler on Friday, Oct. 18. He and Mr. Gardner lost their lives when their small plane went into a tailspin and crashed in a field on the outskirts of Winkler. It was not determined who was at the controls at the time of the crash. The men had attended the air show at Winkler the previous day.

Plane Victims Both Fathers

Mr. Friesen was the owner of the Streamline Crusher Works, and was one of the organizers of the Winkler Cooperative Creamery, Ltd., serving as manager until her resigned to direct his own business. He is survived by his wife and two children. Mr. Gardner was manager of the Winnipeg branch of the Fleet Canuck Aircraft Company, and was married and had one child.