Nickel, James Alan (1953-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1973 Oct 4 p.7

Birth date: 1953 Aug 26

text of obituary:

Electric Shock Fatal to Young Hillsboro Man

Lehigh, Kan. — An electric shock from a power line on the Ron Duerksen farm four miles northwest of Lehigh resulted in the fatal injury of a young rural Hillsboro man here late Tuesday afternoon.

Electrocuted while dumping a load of crushed rock was James Nickel, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Nickel of northeast of Hillsboro. James apparently died instantly when the steel bed of his truck came in contact with the line during the dumping operation.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, 2 p.m., at Trinity Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, with Rev. Erich Sawatzky and Rev. Roland Goering officiating. The bereaved parents request that instead of sending flowers, friends make contributions to a fund for the retarded.

Besides the parents, immediate family members surviving are a brother, Willie and wife; a sister, Judy, Mrs. James F. Schrag, and his aged grandfather, George Epp.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1973 Oct 11 p. 8

Newton and Vicinity

Some 750 relatives, friends and community representatives attended funeral services for James (Jimmie) Nickel at the Trinity Mennonite Church in Hillsboro Saturday afternoon. Ministers in charge were Rev. Erich Sawatzky, pastor of the church, and Rev. Roland Goering, pastor of the Hillsboro First Mennonite Church. Rev. Walter Neufeld, pastor of the Eden Mennonite Church near Moundridge, conducted the graveside committal service. Jimmie, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Nickel of northeast of Hillsboro, was killed Oct. 2 when the bed of the truck he had been driving came in contact with an electric power line during the unloading of crushed rock at the Ron Duerksen farm northwest of Lehigh.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1973 Nov 29 p. 11

JAMES ALAN NICKEL

James Alan Nickel, “Jimmy” to those who knew him well, was born Aug. 26, 1953 at Goessel, Kan. He died Oct. 2, 1973 at a job he loved when the truck in which he was working came into contact with high-line wires.

Jimmy attended Suncrest Grade School and was graduated from Hillsboro High School in May 1971. During his school years he was active in 4-H, FFA, sports and music events.

Jimmy grew up in the Brudertal community where he first attended church with his family. On May 17, 1970, he was baptized into the fellowship of the First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro where he was a member at the time of his death.

Jimmy enjoyed life and always had ready a big smile and a wave of greeting. He could often be found in the company of a group of friends. He participated in summer softball, fishing and hunting. He enjoyed auto mechanics and was often working on his own and other’s cars.

His passing is mourned by his parents, John and Cornelia Nickel; brothers and sisters, Jim and Judy Schrag and Valerie, and William and Karla Nickel; and his grandfather, George E. Epp.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 2 [sic Oct. 6] at Trinity Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, Kan., with Rev. Erick Sawatzky and Rev. Roland Goering officiating. Rev. Walter Neufeld conducted the graveside committal service.

A memorial fund in memory of Alan has been established for the work with the mentally retarded.