Services
Obituary
Gerald E. “Nick” Nickles, 90, of Woolstock, passed away Monday, December 10, 2018, at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Clarion.
Funeral services for Gerald Nickles will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at 10:30 AM at Samuel Lutheran Church, 201 North Lincoln Avenue in Eagle Grove, with Pastor Rich Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at the French Church Cemetery in rural Woolstock.
Visitation for Gerald Nickles will be held on Friday, December 14, 2018, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church in Eagle Grove on Saturday.
Gerald was born on June 29, 1928, in Webster City to Rayner and Eva Nickles. In 1945 he graduated from Woolstock High School and worked on the family farm until being drafted into the United States Army in 1951. After two years of service in Korea, he was honorably discharged and was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in combat. Upon returning home, he began a 65-year career with F. G. Jones Implement in Woolstock, as a truck driver then later in sales. Gerald was well known around the area for his “gift of gab,” charming anybody and everybody. People could call Gerald at home, day or night with farming machinery emergencies as they knew he would always lend a helping hand. He continued working until July of 2018 when he retired due to his health.
On November 11, 1967, he was united in marriage to Margie Yoder in Woolstock where they spent their entire lives. Gerald’s greatest love in his life was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sunday afternoons were often spent in a spirited game of Sorry, Skip-bo or Uno eating popcorn with the grandkids. He was an avid collector of John Deere tractors, hats and ball-point pens. He enjoyed watching racing, Lawrence Welk and reading Overdrive Magazine, which usually resulted in an impromptu nap at the kitchen table.
Gerald is survived by wife of 51 years, Margie of Woolstock; children, Dan (Suzanne) Yoder of Webster City and Denise (Darron) Baker of Eagle Grove; grandchildren, Billie Jo Yoder, Melissa (Ben) Hengesteg, Derek (Lisa) Baker, Ben (Bri) Hull, Brandon Mohr (Maggie Breitenkamp) and Jaclyn (Jed) Byers; great-grandchildren, Vanessa Wickett, Clare and Caroline Hengesteg, Tyson Heaberlin, Olivia and Ella Baker, Alana and Sofie Simmons, Franklin Mohr and Brynn Byers and sister, Marilyn (Dennis) O’Brien of Mazeppa, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah Huffman and sisters, Doris Crouch and Helen Amdahl.