Blaine Ordean NICKLES

NICKLES, SCHEPPLER, NAIL, VON HAGEN, TYSDAL, LOWRY, EDWARDS, BATCHELLOR, PETERSON, MOSHER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/13/2010 at 11:04:10

October 13, 2010
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

August 3, 1928 - October 11, 2010

CLARION, IA - Blaine Ordean Nickles, 82, was called home Monday October 11 at Wright Medical Center, Clarion, Iowa, after a brief hospitalization. Blaine was surrounded by many family and friends as he passed. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday 10/14 at the First United Methodist Church, Clarion Iowa. Visitation will be held Wednesday 10/13, 5-7 PM at the Ewing Funeral Home, Clarion Iowa.

Blaine was born on August 3, 1928, in rural Woolstock, Iowa, to Ilo and Jennie (Scheppler) Nickles. Blaine was a graduate of Blairsburg High School and served in the US Army from 9/9/1946 to 3/31/1948, as a tank driver, company clerk, and was appointed to guard the US embassy. Blaine was betrothed to Dorothy Nail on June 18, 1950 in Webster City, Iowa. To this union were born Renee Von Hagen and Mitchell Nickles. After the passing of Dorothy in 1963, Blaine combined families with Melvene (Tysdal) Lowry on August 6, 1966.

Blaine is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Melvene; children Mark Lowry (Deb), Renee Von Hagen, Mitchell; Mickey (Steve) Edwards; and grandchildren Angela, Scott, Cale, Gaige, Tess, and Lakota, his two great grandchildren Quentin and Elijah; brother Louis Nickles, and sisters Lavetta Batchellor and Dorothy Peterson. Blaine was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Dorothy, daughter Marlene Marye (Lowry) Mosher, and brother Bernard. While, Blaine was a man of many interests, his foremost love was for his family, especially his grand-children.

Blaine was a well-known and successful Wright County farmer with a passion for preserving Iowa family agriculture and rural quality of life through political and community involvement. He was a long-time and very active member of the Iowa Farmers Union - serving on its board for many years. He was a 30 year veteran of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee (ASCS) and served 18 years with the Farmer's Cooperative Company of Dows. His achievements were met with many accolades including the lifetime achievement award from the Iowa Farmers Union (2008), The Dixon C. Terry Leadership award from the Iowa Farm Unity Coalition (1995), The Friends of Agriculture outstanding service to farming (1996), and The Sierra Club Grass Roots Conservationist Award (1995). Blaine was active in the movement to question the impact of factory livestock operations on the local environment and community, including efforts to impact government policy. This was captured in a book chapter written by Blaine, "An Iowa Farmer's Personal and Political Experience with Factory Hog Facilities", published in Pigs, Profits, and Rural Communities, edited by Thu and Durrenberger (State University of New York Press, 1998).

Blaine was also active in the First United Methodist Church and attended the annual church conference in Ames. Among Blaine's many passions was the love of uncovering hidden treasures in local auctions, swap meets, and antique stores. Blaine and his antique tractors were often seen gracing Iowa's roadways during major tractor ride events. His contagious laughter and infectious love of life will be missed by all, friends and family alike.