Nickel, John Abraham (1870-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Oct 30 p. 8

Birth date: 1870 Apr 17

text of obituary:

REV. JOHN A. NICKEL

Our loving father, John Abraham Nickel, the son of John and Aganitha [sic Aganetha] Block Nickel, was born on April 17, 1870, in Poland. At the age of three he came with his parents to the United States and they settled in Marion County, Kansas.

At the age of 17 he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, and on Sept. 14,1888, he was baptized by Rev. David Dick and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church for fellowship.

On Sept. 27, 1890, he was united in holy matrimony with our mother, than Margerita [sic Margaretha] Pankratz. This union, which lasted 49 years, eight months and 20 days, was blessed with six children, three sons and three daughters. One daughter, Mrs. Lydia Groening, passed away in1948. the oldest son, John, passed away at Shafter in 1956. Mother passed away June 17, 1940.

The church of which he was a faithful member recognized in him also the gift of preaching the Word of God, and called him to serve in this capacity in1906. On May 13,1913, father was ordained in the Mennonite Brethren Church of Lehigh, Kansas. He served this church faithfully as pastor for 17 years. During his work as a minister of the Gospel he had the joy of seeing all six of his children accept the Lord as their Savior and also to follow Him in baptism. Father also served the Durham and Tampa churches as pastor for a short time. Later he had the joy of helping along in the work at Shafter, Rosedale, Bakersfield, and Reedley Mennonite Brethren churches.

In 1923 our parents moved to Bakersfield, Calif. In 1944 he came to Reedley, and the last 14 years of his life he spent in the Reedley home for the Aged. Here he was a real blessing and always displayed a spirit of satisfaction and gratitude. His health was fairly good until the last two years. The last year he spent much time in the wheel chair. He suffered a good deal the last few weeks of his life and longed to go home. The Master called him at 2:00 a. m. Saturday morning, Oct. 18, 1958. He reached the age of 88 years, six months and one day.

One of the highlights of father's life was the joy of helping and assisting young ministers who were just beginning their work. To many of these he has been a real father in the faith and has guided them into fruitful service for the Lord.

Those who remain to mourn his departure are the following: two daughters, Agnes, Mrs. Henry A. Janzen of Reedley and Margaret, Mrs. Stienard [sic Steinert] of Bakersfield; two sons, Alvin of San Jose, and Wesley of Dinuba; two sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; one brother, Rev. P. E. Nickel of Reedley; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Duerksen of Fairview, Okla., and Pauline, Mrs. J. C. Friesen of Reedley. Besides these there are 22 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and many friends and relatives.

The memorial service was held at the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church on Oct.22, with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. Wm. Neufeld officiating. The concluding services were at the Shafter Cemetery. — The family.