Bernard E. Nickel

Bernard E. “Bernie” Nickel, 81, of Loup City, died Thursday, June 2, 2011, at St. John’s Good Samaritan Society in Kearney. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. The Revs. Marty Egging and Tom Ryan will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post No. 48 of Loup City. Private family burial will be at a later date in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 6 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Nickel was born on May 22, 1930, at Kearney, the son of Ferdinand and Katherine (Shanahan) Nickel. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean R. Nickel. He is survived by a son, Timothy Nickel of Kearney; a daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Steve Czaplewski of Kearney; a brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Jane Nickel of Douglas, WY. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Caitlen Ann Nickel of Kearney and Matthew Czaplewski and Ashley Whitford of Kearney; a soon to be great-grandbaby; two step-grandchildren, April Binder of Table Rock and Bret Czaplewski of Omaha; and his former daughter-in-law, Merrie Nickel of Kearney. Bernie grew up on a farm north of Axtell, where he attended country schools and graduated from Axtell High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Navy from Oct 1948 to Oct. 1949 and was called to service again from April 1952 to Dec. 1953. He was united in marriage to Jean R. Eral on Aug. 4, 1951, at Hastings. The couple farmed near Axtell until moving to Arcadia in 1961 where they continued to farm and operate a dairy. In 1969, Bernie became a salesman for Vigortone Feeds. In 1977, the couple moved to Loup City, where he continued as a feed salesman. He later drove cattle truck for Speedway for 15 years. Jean died on June 29, 2009, and he moved to St. John’s in Aug. 2009, where he lived the rest of his life. He was a member of St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 48 of Loup City and the Loup City Country Club. He enjoyed bowling, golfing and rodeos. In addition to his wife, Jean, he was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Robert, Gerald, Donald and Paul Nickel; and one sister, Mary Jane Nickel. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice