Jean Nickel

Jean Nickel, age 78, of Ulysses, Kansas died Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. She was born April 4, 1937, in Chariton, Iowa the daughter of Charles and Martha (Webber) Harding.

Jean married Andrew “Andy” Lee Nickel on September 1, 1956 in Norman, Oklahoma. They resided in Oklahoma City for four months before Andy’s company transferred him to Dallas, Texas. They lived Texas for five years before moving back to the farm in Oklahoma. She helped her husband with the farm work and also was a teacher’s aid at Northwest Technology Center in Fairview, Oklahoma from September 1984 until May 2002. She was active in the Saron Mennonite Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and Awana Club leader. Jean was an avid reader and lived in Ulysses, Kansas the last three years with family.

She is survived by her sons, John Nickel and wife Millie of Ulysses, Kansas, Ron Nickel and wife Carolee of Turpin, Oklahoma; brother, Lloyd Harding of Independence, Kansas; sister, Melva Schmidt of Ankeny, Iowa; and six grandchildren, Andy John Nickel, Melissa Nickel, Noel J. Nickel, Megan Nickel, Kaitlyn Nickel, and Cassie Nickel; and two great-grandchildren, Avery Welch and Camden Riley.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Andy in 2009; sister, Martha; brother, Bud; and great-grandson, Jeremiah John Nickel.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at the New Life Church in Ulysses, Kansas with Pastor Nathan Engelman officiating. A funeral service will also be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, June 29, 2015 at the Saron Mennonite Church in Orienta, Oklahoma with Pastor Arnold Curby officiating. Private burial will be at Saron Mennonite Cemetery in Orienta, Oklahoma. Friends may call from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Friday, June 26, 2015 at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to Mission Aviation Fellowship in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.