Nickel Margarete Hamm (1904-1990)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 1990 Dec 7 p. 29

Birth date: 1904

text of obituary:

MARGARETE NICKEL

Margarete Nickel of Clearbrook, B.C. passed away Oct. 3. She was born Oct. 20, 1904 to Martin and Helena Hamm in Blumenhof, Chortitza, Ukraine. When she was 6, the family moved to Schonau, Zagradovka. She accepted the Lord at age 14, was baptized and joined the Mennonitisch Allianz Church in Zagradovka. In 1919 her father, a minister, was murdered by Machno's raiders. In 1925 she married Peter Nickel. He was imprisoned in 1938 and later died in Siberia. In 1940 8-year-old son Hans died of malarial meningitis. In October, 1943 the family fled to Poland by horse and wagon, then to East Germany. They were living in ruined houses in East Berlin when they were rescued by MCC . They immigrated to Paraguay and then to Canada in 1950. Newly married daughter Helen died of leukemia in 1956. Margarete worked hard to make a living, doing day work in Vancouver and Winnipeg. In 1968 she and daughter Margaret moved to Clearbrook, where she enjoyed the fellowship of Clearbrook MB Church and a ladies' group. Her health deteriorated, but her trust in the Lord remained steadfast and she longed to be with him. Predeceased by her husband and 2 children, she is mourned by children Margaret and Peter and 1 sister. The funeral was Oct. 9 in Clearbrook MB Church, with Jacob Pauls and David Epp ministering.