Donald Dee Nickell, known also as “Nick” among friends, was born June 5, 1940 in Lincoln, NE, the elder of 2 sons of Henry Dee and Gladys W. Foreman Nickell. On October 10th he suffered a severe stroke and was flown to Oklahoma City’s Integris Baptist Medical Center. Early Saturday morning, October 20th, he entered the presence of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.
Survivors are his wife, Judy, daughters Veronica Brown of Hancock, MI, and Rochelle Nickell of Independence, CA; 2 grandsons: Joshua Hoover and wife Rachael of Kansas City, MO, and Jacob Berberich. He is also survived by 1 great-grandson, Dalton Hoover; his brother, Jerry Nickell and wife Marilyn of Denton, NE; 13 of 15 first cousins, 3 of whom are double cousins; nieces Christi Roth of Lincoln, NE, Keri Nickell of Minneapolis, MN and Tally Preismeyer and husband Gary of Sugarland, TX as well as their children, Whitney and Craig Preismeyer; students and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and all of his aunts and uncles.
Don “Nick” was raised in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church and received salvation at the age of 13. He and Judy are members of Springfield Community Church of the Nazarene in Springfield where he is a past board member and Sunday school teacher. He also served on the board of Bridges for Youth, was active in Kiwanis and was a founding member for Acts Ministry, remaining in that position until his death.
After graduating from Northeast H.S. in Lincoln in 1958 he spent 20 years in several federal agencies, beginning as a clerk-typist and concluding as Executive Director for Windham Area Community Action in Connecticut. He lived several years in southern California, a year in Springfield where he met Judy, a year in Fairbury, NE, and 10 years in Connecticut before returning to Springfield in August 1979. He married the love of his life and steadfast partner, Judy Line, on August 2, 1969.
He realized his lifelong dream of teaching after earning his certification in English and Secondary Education from Eastern Connecticut State College in 1974, where he finished his BA in only 5 semesters and was named to the Dean’s list every semester, graduating Cum Laude. He earned his MFA in Theatre Arts from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in 2 additional semesters and 1 summer. He was honored to be listed in Who’s Who Among American College Students. All of this was made possible only because of the encouragement and support of Judy. After the family returned to Springfield, he worked for Pennypower and Aggieville, while pursuing a teaching position. He retired from Hillcrest High School in December 1999, where he built the drama department from one class to seven. He began teaching at OTC as an adjunct professor in the fall of 2002.
Nick enjoyed live theatre, movies, gospel music and was a big fan of stock car racing.
He suffered a damaging heart attack in 1976 which began a slow, continuous deterioration leading to the state of being declared hopeless in December 2009. It was only due to divine intervention that his life was preserved after surgery to implant a Left Ventricular Assist Device at Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City on Jan. 6, 2009, when he was told he would otherwise not have lived another 10 days. This experience humbled him greatly and gave him a powerful testimony as to God’s faithfulness.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 25, 2012, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Funeral service will be held at Springfield Community Church at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 26. Interment will follow at 4:00 p.m., in the Nickell family cemetery, Hazel Valley, AR.
Memorials are suggested to Acts Ministry, 3247 S. Valley View Ave., Springfield, MO 65804; Bridges for Youth, 1039 W. Nichols, Springfield, MO 65802; or Springfield Community Church, 2616 E. Battlefield, Springfield, MO 65804.