Nickel, Jacob Abram (1895-1990)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 1990 Dec 21 p. 24

Birth date: 1894

text of obituary:

JACOB ABRAM NICKEL

Jacob Abram Nickel of Saskatoon passed away Oct. 20. He was born Oct. 23, 1895 to Abram and Sarah Nickel in Ignatovka, No.6 district, southern Russia. The family immigrated to a homestead near Borden, Sask. in 1903. He hurt his leg, and the doctor diagnosed cancer, which made him think about death. At age 12 be accepted the Lord under the ministry of missionary Frank J. Wiens, claiming Is. 43:1 and 42:3. Later that year he was baptized by elder David Dyck. Due to his sore leg, he was not most useful on the farm, so his father consented to his desire to attend Bible school in Herbert, Sask. Here he met Helen Froese, marrying her in 1919. She helped him teach Sunday school in Walter Scott School for 17 years. After this, he was lay leader of Borden MB Church until 1952. In 1927 he began to sell hail insurance, using this as an open door to share his faith in Jesus. In 1952 they moved to Hepburn, Sask. In 1961 they retired to Saskatoon, where they joined West Portal MB Church and served as deacons. Helen died in 1967. In 1968 he married a second Helen. She died in 1982. He moved to Central Haven Care Home. Predeceased by his two wives, son Sam in 1936, 2 sisters and 4 brothers, he is mourned by his children Dave of Abbotsford, B.C., Victor of Saskatoon, Waldo of Regina, Clifford of Swift Current, Sask., Leona Peters of Borden and Ruth of Calgary; foster son Herman Dyck of Martensville, Sask.; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and 1 sister.