Frank R. Nickel Sr.
Frank R. Nickel Sr., 84, of Butler died Saturday afternoon at the Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia in Cabot.
He was born in Carrick, May 13, 1926, a son of the late Frank G. and Collette Gaugler Nickel.
He attended the St. Fidelis Seminary, the SS. Peter and Paul Monastery, the St. Mary House of Philosophy, Duquesne University and Trinity University.
He was employed as a reporter and staff writer by the Pittsburgh Sun- Telegraph.
Taking a leave of absence to enter the U.S. Air Force, he advanced to the rank of second lieutenant.
He was an advertising manager for a national insurance company and became the editor of St. Francis Hospital magazine. He later became public relations director for the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania. In 1960 he was a construction supervisor for Ryan Homes. Frank went on to become an independent home builder and land developer of projects including Cooperstown Manor, Rockdale Lakes One, Two and Three, Saxonburg Apartments, Whitestown Village, Yogi Bear Campground and Plantation Park.
Frank was daily and firmly committed to his Catholic faith. He served as a lector and greeter at the St. Paul Catholic Church, as well as being active in the RCIA group. He remained devoted to the Capuchin Franciscans and coordinated the fundraising efforts for Capuchin Seminarian education. He also participated on various Capuchin committees for 40 years. Frank was most grateful for his appointment by Pope John Paul II as an Affiliate of the Order of St. Francis. His acceptance as an affiliate brother to these saintly and scholarly friars was an immense joy and highest honor of his life.
Frank was a life member of Etna Elks Lodge 932 and the Butler Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf and bridge.
He and his wife Joan enjoyed many years of ballroom dancing and won competitions including the Pittsburgh Symphony Ball several times.
Surviving are his devoted wife of 59 years, Joan Nicklas Nickel, who he married Feb. 23, 1952; his son, Frank R. Nickel Jr. of Butler and his children Frank III, Christopher and Andrea; his son, Ron, of Butler; and his daughter Linda Cunningham and her husband, Robert, of Butler and their sons Robert III, Matthew and Nicholas; two sisters, Sister Marjorie Nickel, CDP of Kingston, Mass., and Donna Nickel Hamilton and her husband, Graham, of Orlando, Fla.; a brother, Albert Nickel and his wife, Dana, of Wilton, Conn.; along with several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Frank and Collette, he was preceded in death by his son, James; his brothers, Bernard and Robert; and his stepmother, Dorothy Wiefling Nickel.
B>NICKEL </B>— Friends and family of Frank R. Nickel Sr., who died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Jan. 22 at the St. Paul Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Inurnment, with military honors by the Joint Honors Squad of Butler VFW Post 249 and Lyndora American Legion Post 778, will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Butler. A reception will follow in Glenn Hall at St. Paul Catholic Church. There is no visitation.The family requests that memorial donations could be directed for Capuchin Student Education and may be sent to The Capuchins, 221 36th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201.Cremation services were provided by <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, Butler; and information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
