Wilma Nickel
Wilma Pearl Nickel, 96, of Hillsboro died Feb. 10, 2003, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center.
Born April 30, 1906, in the Brudertal community in rural Hillsboro, she was the third child of Heinrich and Sarah (Penner) Nickel.
The family were early homesteaders along French Creek.
Her elementary education began in the rural Brudertal School. She later attended Hillsboro Academy.
In the early 1940s, the family moved to Hillsboro, where she assisted in the homes of several families.
She became employed at the State Teacher's College in Emporia and stayed there until she retired.
It was then she met the Jim Hanson family, for whom she became a nanny for their infant twin daughters and later for their son. She accompanied the family as they lived in various locations in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Kansas.
In March of 1995, she moved back to Hillsboro, where she lived until her death.
She was a member of Trinity Mennonite Church in Hillsboro.
She enjoyed attending church, embroidering pillowcases for MCC, visiting friends and listening to music on the radio.
She was preceded in death by her father in November of 1928; mother in February of 1968; sister-in-law Lillian in March of 1987; sisters, Ida Mae in July of 1996 and Elizabeth in August of 1998; and brother Rudolf in April of 2001.
Survivors include four nieces; one nephew; 16 grandnieces and grandnephews; and 14 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Trinity Mennonite Church with Pastor Tim Kliewer officiating. Burial will be at Haven of Rest Cemetery, in rural Hillsboro.
A memorial fund has been established with Mennonite Central Committee.
Condolences may be sent to the family via Hillsboromemchapel@ hotmail.com.
