Walden "Slim" Nickel

Walden Carl "Slim" Nickel 90 of Western, NE passed away at Jefferson Community Health Center in Fairbury on Saturday, Oct. 27th. He was born on June 8, 1922 near Western to Arthur and Martha Howe Nickel. He was born a twin and grew up on a farm north of Western. He attended Spunky Hollow school and was confirmed at St. John's Evangelical United Church of Christ. On November 30, 1944, he married Zola Mae Nickles in the parsonage of St. John's in Western. They would have been married 68 years. To this union two daughters and three sons were born.
After the farm, he worked at the Fairbury Windmill Factory and the railroad, moving to Seward, NE where he worked at Hughes Brothers for 16 years before moving back to Western in 1967. He was employed at Petersens Mfg. Co., original maker of the Vise-Grip, until he retired with his twin brother Waldo in 1987. He enjoyed playing and watching baseball and other sports. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting and camping with family and friends. He also played guitar, sang and yodeled and going to auctions. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond and Homeer and an infant brother and a sister May Gross. He is survived by his wife Zola, daughters Janice Anderson and husband Larry of DeWitt, NE, Kathy Goolsby and husband Bradley of Western, NE, sons Dwight Nickel and wife Pam of Western, NE, Robert Nickel and wife Susan of Western, NE and Duane Nickel and wife Loretta of Swanton, NE. Grandchildren Larry Anderson, Jr., Ronald Anderson, Janna Muehing, John Nickel, Justin Nickel, Joelle Nickel, Scott Tachovsky, Kimberly Davis, Renae Nickel, Lee Nickel, Michael Nickel, Krystal Nickel, Alayna Nowak. 20 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. Twin brother Waldo Nickel of Lincoln, NE. Funeral services will held Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., at St. John's Evangelical United Church of Christ in Western, with Pastor Glenda Jardine officiating.
Burial in Plainview Cemetery, Western, NE. Memorials are to family's choice. Viewing will be in Western at Meyer Funeral Home from 1 - 8 p.m., Wed., Thurs., Fri., with the family greeting friends from 6 - 7:30 on Friday.