Gilbert Boyd NICKELL

NICKELL, JONES, WOODLEY, MEYERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/4/2017 at 16:45:56

March 10, 1925 --- February 25, 2017

Gib Nickell loved life to the fullest. He loved bowling, throwing horseshoes and best of all fishing. In fact, it was told just a few days before his passing he was doing a jig with his hands in the air and of course with a big smile on his face shouting "I got my limit". He also was somewhat of a jokester with his family along with others. "Pull my finger" he would say and you would hear giggles come from the grandchildren. Gib also could speak fluent pig latin. Gib was just a big kid.

Gib was born March 10, 1925 in Lineville, Iowa, to proud parents Albert and Lula (Jones) Nickell. His parents named him Gilbert Boyd Nickell, but many know him as Gib, Grandpa Mow and Gilbert Boyd (when he is getting scolded) or just plain old Grandpa. Gib was raised on the family farm and attended country school then on to Lineville High School till the age of 17 when he had to leave school to help on the family farm when 2 of his brothers had to go off to war.

Gib stayed working on the family farm till the age of 25. When his brother Lew came back from the war, Gib was drafted to the army and sent to Korea. In Korea Gib was an artillery hauler to the firing battery. He used to say when you hear a missal "hit the ditch". Gib did not talk much about these days he had seen way too many sad things. Thank goodness for the angel on his shoulder because he came home unhurt June 8, 1952.

Another blessing in Gib's life occurred on June 28, 1952 when he met this beautiful sandy blonde 17 year old girl named Norma Jean Woodley. Gib courted Norma for a year and the two became one on June 8, 1953 in the minister's home. Together they had 6 children, Nancy Lee Nickell, Richard Allen Nickell, Mark David Nickell, Kevin Lee Nickell, Teresa Annette (Meyers) Nickell and John Gilbert Nickell.

After getting married, Gib and Norma moved to the Goldfield area as a hired hand for 3 years. From there they moved to the Riceville, Iowa area and worked as a hired hand for 6 years. When they got the opportunity, the family moved back to Goldfield for 3 years and then from there to Hardy for 8 more years still as a hired hand. In 1972 the family moved to Renwick and Gib started working at Livermore Coop elevator. Gib worked there for 15 more years till his retirement at the age of 62. He loved his retirement years, but could not give up his itch for farming so he worked for Wergland Farms for an additional 25 years in the spring and fall.

Once he entered retirement, Gib came involved with throwing horseshoes, winning many awards along the way in the tournaments he entered. Gib also loved bowling. At the age of 91 he was still bowling at various bowling tournaments. In fact at the last tournament he was the oldest bowler there. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2016 he had to give it up, one of the saddest days for Gib. Thank goodness for fishing, it kept him going. He also played games on the computer, read western books, seek-a-word puzzles and jigsaw puzzles to keep him active. He also loved to go and watch his grandchildren's activities and later in life his great-grandchildren's activities.

Gib is survived by his wife, Norma, Renwick, Iowa, five children and their spouses Rick (Tammy) Nickell, Beaverdale, Iowa, Mark (Deb) Nickell, Waukee, Iowa, Kevin (Deb) Nickell, Goldfield, Iowa, Terri (Larry) Meyers and John (Julie) Nickell. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Gib was preceded in death by his parents, 4 out of 5 of his brothers, 3 out of his 4 sisters, and his daughter Nancy Lee Nickell.

http://www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com/obituary/178828/Gilbert-Nickell/