Nikkel, Delis Arthur 1922-2001

NIKKEL, VAN ZANTE

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2005 at 20:20:37

TRACY - Delis Arthur Nikkel, 79, of Tracy, died Monday, April 16, at Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa.

His funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Tracy Christian Reformed Church in Tracy, Alvin Bandstra officiating, and the Rev. Paul Hughes assisting. Burial: Sandridge Cemetery near Tracy. Memorials: Bible League. Visiting hours are open today at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, with family present 6:30-8 p.m.

De Nikkel was born Feb. 24, 1922, in his parents' farmhouse in Jasper County north of Sully, to Willem Henry and Carrie Marie Van Zante Nikkel. He attended Sully Christian Grade School and graduated from eighth grade at Washington No. 3 Country Grade School in Poweshiek County. His parents lived near Brooklyn and Grinnell at the time. Following graduation, he began farming with his father there, and continued farming with his father near Tracy and Bussey. De took over the operation following his father's death in 1953.

In 1975 he and his sister, Marie, moved to a farm west of Tracy where De continued farming and began driving a farm-to-market bulk milk truck part-time. In the early 1980s he moved from the farm into Tracy and began driving the milk truck full-time for 12 years, retiring in 1992. He then took over the responsibility of mowing the Tracy Little League ball diamond and Cone Cemetery near Tracy. He rarely missed a Little League game in Tracy, or games at Twin Cedars School near Bussey.

He was an avid antique tractor collector and restorer only of International Farmalls. He spent as much time as possible at the Old Thresher's Reunion in Mt. Pleasant each fall. He was a member of Tracy Christian Reformed Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Albert Henry (Nick) Nikkel; a brother-in-law, Nick P. De Jong; and a great-nephew, Matthew James Rozenboom.

He is survived by his sister, Cornelia Marie De Jong, with whom he lived in Tracy; his sister-in-law, Anna Pauline Nikkel of Tracy; three nieces and their families: Connie L. and Ralph Stout of Tracy, Paulette A. and Marty Williams of Tracy, and L. Jayne and Steve Rozenboom of Bussey; four great-nephews; three great-nieces; a great-great-nephew and a great-great-niece.

The Oskaloosa Herald, April 18, 2001