LACONIA - Richard Nickel Jr., 68, died unexpectedly on July 1, 2014.
Rick is survived by his wife of 24 years, Helen (Gilbert) Nickel who moved back to the area 4 years ago after living in Colorado for 21 years.
Rick was born in Carlisle, PA on January 16, 1946, son of Richard Sr. and Beatrice Nickel. As his father was in the Army, the family lived in many countries and states including Japan, France, Germany, Florida, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Texas. He graduated from Linden High School in Linden, Alabama and attended El Paso Community College and Mesa College both in Colorado majoring in electrical technology.
He served proudly in the US Army, staff sergeant E6, for almost 5 years with a tour in Vietnam. He then worked seventeen years for several power companies as a high power lineman. After marrying Helen, they moved to Colorado where he worked as an electrical maintenance manager for several hospitals and a shopping mall.
Rick loved ranching, where he raised and trained horses, NASCAR, motorcycling, classic cars, hunting in the Rocky Mountains and fishing, He successfully battled 2 ½ years of colon cancer.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Lisa Sweeney and her husband Mike from Florida; step-daughter Lisa Ballantyne Alden and her husband Lou; step-son Blaine Ballantyne and his wife Jill from Helena, MT; his beloved grandchildren Andrew and Zachary Sweeney; Cord and Isabella Ballantyne; one brother Dennis and his wife Chris from Carlisle, PA; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marie Anne and Frank Mills of Laconia; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Paul Gilbert of Ellington, CT; and many cousins, nieces ,nephews and friends.
Memorial calling hours will be held from 9:30 AM to 11AM on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, using the Carriage House entrance. A memorial service will immediately follow at 11 AM also at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Laconia.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard’s name to the Payson Center at Concord Hospital, 250 Pleasant St., Concord, NH 03301
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.