Nikkel, Abraham J. (1937-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Dec 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1937 Jun 7

text of obituary:

ABRAHAM J. NIKKEL

Abraham J. Nikkel, 66, of Versailles, Mo., died Oct. 26, 2003, due to a massive brain hemorrhage suffered Oct. 7. He was born June 7, 1937, to Jacob P. and Eva Unrau Nikkel at Bethesda Hospital in Goessel, Kan.

He attended grade school at Maple Hill, southwest of Lehigh. He graduated from Goessel High School in 1955 and attended Bethel College in North Newton before serving an 18-month term in 1-W alternative service at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Colo.

He married Kathryn Marie Hilty of Versailles on Oct. 1, 1960, at Bethel Mennonite Church in Fortuna, Mo.

He was a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church of rural Goessel prior to becoming a member at Bethel Mennonite Church. He was active in various aspects of the church and community for the past 30 years. He worked as a builder, farmer, dairyman and truck driver throughout his professional life.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn; a daughter, Julie Goering and her husband, Russell, of Hutchinson, Kan.; a son, James P. Nikkel of Newton; five sisters, Josephine Voth of Newton, Doris Schmidt of Hutchinson, Arzella Dirksen of Denver, Orletta Goering of Gresham, Ore., and Joyce Christopher of Olathe, Kan.; and two granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Alice Rebecca.

Funeral services were held at Bethel Mennonite Church of Fortuna. Burial was in the church cemetery.