Nickel, Gerhard E. (1887-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 May 3 p. 6

Birth date: 1887 Apr 14

text of obituary:

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— Funeral services for Gerhard E. Nickel, 64, were held at the First Mennonite church Saturday afternoon with Rev. D. J. Unruh officiating. Mr. Nickel, who had been a carpenter in Newton for the past 27 years, suddenly became ill on Wednesday, April 25, and passed away the same evening at Axtell Christian hospital. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and five children including Mrs. George Breitenstein and Ray Nickel of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 May 10 p. 9

text of obituary:

GERHARD E. NICKEL

Gerhard E. Nickel, son of Gerhard W. and Anna (Ewert) Nickel, was born in Marion county near Durham, Kansas, known as the Silberfeld comunity [sic] on April 14, 1887. He died on April 25, 1951, aged 64 years and 11 days.

He attended Sunday schoil [sic] and church at the Brudertal Mennonite church, Hillsboro, Kansas and was baptized on confession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour from sin by Elder William Ewert on June 19, 1907, becoming a member of the Brudertal church. In November, 1945, he and his wife joined the First Mennonite church, Newton, Kansas, where he remained a faithful member until his death.

On November 23, 1913, he was united in marriage to Helen Voth. For 37 years they shared the joys and sorrows of life with one another. This union was blest with five children, three sons and two daughters. For a number of years they lived on the farm near Hillsboro. Two years were spent in Montana.

In 1924 they moved to Newton, where he was engaged as a carpenter by trade and loved his work. He was devoted to his family and loved music and encouraged singing at the family gathering. He was known for his punctuality. He was cheerful and happy when he left for work on Wednesday morning, but by noon he was taken to the hospital, and fell asleep in Jesus at 8:40 p.m. that same evening.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife and the following sons and daughters and their families: Milton and wife, Wichita, Kans.; Rosella and her husband George Breitenstein, Newton; Louella and her husband Harvey B. Pixley, Wichita, Kans.; Allen and wife, Eldorado, Kans.; Ray and wife, Newton, Kans.; five grandchildren, a brother, William E. Nickel, Wolf Point, Mont.; four sisters, Marie (Mrs. Henry Bartel), Bertha (Mrs. P. D. Funk), Susie (Mrs. Henry Pauls), all of Hillsboro, Kans. an A. Augusta (Mrs. Ernest Thimm),. Newton; one aunt, Mrs. Anton Knak, Newton, Kans. One brother and three sisters preceded him in death.

The funeral service, which was in the care of the Draper Funeral home of Newton, was held in the First Mennonite church with the pastor, Daniel J. Unruh, in charge, on Saturday, April 28, 3:00 p.m. A mixed quartet sang ‘‘Beautiful Valley of Eden” and “Abide With Me” at the church and Rev. Unruh spoke words of comfort based on John 11:25-26. The body was taken to the Greenwood cemetery where the quartet sang “Nearer My God to Thee” and the body was committed to the ground until the Resurrection morn.

The Mennonite obituary: 1951 Jun 5 p. 371