Robert Allen “Bobby” Nickel
Robert Allen “Bobby” Nickel, 64, was called home to the Lord on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a long battle with congestive heart failure and other complications.
Bobby was born on June 14, 1957, to William Eugene and Fay Lorain (Fiew) Nickel in Ganado, Texas. He spent most of his childhood years in Edna and Victoria.
In the summer of 1972, Bobby went to live with his mother, Fay Rhoades, in Elgin, Texas, where he was welcomed with open arms. He started his freshman year at Elgin High School under the watchful eye of Principal “Papa Jack” Flinn. Bobby loved to play chess and got a chess club started at Elgin High, one of his bragging rights, and he proudly wore #78 on his purple and white Wildcat football jersey. He graduated from E.H.S. in 1976 and remained close to his high school classmates, two of whom were with him just before he passed away. He was and always will be a member of the 76’ers, consisting of alumni from the EHS Class of 1976. Upon graduation, Bobby apprenticed under W.K. Jennings Electric and retired as a union electrician after many years of service from Local 520 IBEW. He was a member of the Lost Pines Cowboy Church in Elgin.
Bobby’s greatest gift was his ability to love. He has helped so many “unknown” people in his lifetime. If he saw a need, he simply took care of it without a lot of fanfare and expected nothing in return. He loved coaching baseball and soccer and did this faithfully for many years. He was still actively coaching (from the stands) his grandson, Easton’s, baseball team until his death. He helped with Relay for Life, the Hogeye Festival, and many other community activities.
Bobby doted on his grandchildren, Easton Cole Nickel and Jayden Rylee Nickel, with great love and affection. They were his little “sidekicks” and his world. Another great love in his life were his dogs: Rocky, Juno, and Lucy, but ultimately Bobby’s greatest joy in life were his two kids Robert (BJ) Nickel, Jr. & Brittany Eller.
He was preceded in death by his father, W. E. Nickel; his stepmother, Annie Lucille Nickel; his brothers, Charles William Nickel and Michael Anthony Nickel; his foster brother, Johnny Fitzgerald; and his great-niece, Hannah Rebecca Rodriguez.
He is survived by his son, Robert Allen “BJ” Nickel, Jr. and his wife Brittney (Stone) of Elgin; his daughter, Brittany Eller and husband Ryan of Blue; his son, Ryan Rachui of Killeen; his mother, Fay (Fiew) Newman of Elgin; his brother, Ronald David Nickel and wife Pam (Branum) of Elgin; his sister, Doris Faye Rodriguez and husband Ricky of Elgin, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members. He would especially like to acknowledge Mitzi Meyers, Brenda Nickel, Kimberly Merrell Bostic, and Kenny Merrell.
Our deepest gratitude to pallbearers, Floyd Bowen, Brett Ingalls, Donnie Lane, Joey Miller, Jeffrey Moore, Harlan Neidig, and Rob Stewart … and special thanks to nurses Tillie and Babb from Cella Bella, Lisa Grady, and Steve Banda for their loving support and assistance.
A viewing will be held Wednesday, February 9th at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home in Elgin, Texas.
A Celebration of Bobby’s Life will be held Thursday, February 10th at the Lost Pines Cowboy Church in Elgin, Texas.
Interment will follow in the Elgin Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home.