Rick Nickle, 78, died in his home in Sequim, Washington, surrounded by his family on Dec. 5, 2021.
Rick was born March 8, 1943, in Murray, Utah to Clement “Clem” and Lilly Nickle. He grew up in Sandy, Utah, one of seven kids: Darlene, Karma, Clement Jr. “Nick,” Roland, Barbara and Jolynne.
Rick joined the Navy in November 1961 until February 1964. He worked as a mechanic with the SeaBees (Construction Battalion) in various places like Guam, Alaska and Okinawa.
Rick met Charleyn Marie Carpenter while stationed at Pacific Beach, Washington. They married Aug. 25th, 1962. In 1964 he left the Navy and the very next day became a Longshoreman. He kept that job for 42 years, until he retired in 2006.
Together Rick and Charleyn raised three children. Rick Jr. was born in 1963, Randy in 1966 and Renee in 1975.
In 1974, Rick was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and associated with the Aberdeen area congregations, including volunteering for “Unassigned Territory” — traveling with a group of friends to areas that are rarely reached with the Good News of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 24:14). He served the Aberdeen congregation until Rick and Charleyn moved to Sequim in 2013 and then continued to associate with the congregation in Sequim as much as his health and circumstances allowed.
Rick is preceded in death by his parents, Clement and Lilly, two of his sisters, Darlene and Karma, and one brother, Roland.
He is survived by his brother Clement Jr. “Nick” and his sisters Barbara and Jolynne. Rick also is survived by his adored wife of 58 years, Charleyn, his children and their spouses: Rick Jr. and Rhonda, Randy and Tena, and Renee and Heath.
Rick also has eight grandchildren: Regan, Randall, Rheas, Veronica, Vance, Vaughn, Megan and Madison and seven great-grandchildren: Seth, Rhet, Rylan, Rhylee, Hunter, Wyatt and (due in March 2022) Willow.
Rick was known for his love, generosity and HUGE sense of humor. Charleyn always said that Rick “doesn’t have a serious bone in his body.” You couldn’t spend any length of time with him before you would begin to hear his jokes and stories. For instance, he always said that he wanted to order a pizza but he would ask them to cut it into three pieces because he didn’t think he could eat eight! He was so famous for this that, when he retired, his co-workers ordered him a pizza cut into three pieces. We have pictures to prove it!
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be deeply missed by all who loved him and remembered by all who met him.
Until we see him again … Revelation 21:3-4; John 5:28-29; Isaiah 25:8
A memorial service will be held via zoom Jan. 8. At 2 p.m. we will begin a memory slideshow on a loop with the memorial talk beginning at 3 p.m. PST. If you are interested in attending or have a memory you would like to share with the family, please email Renee at this email address: InMemoryofRickNickle@gmail.com
In lieu of flowers, please take the time to visit JW.org It is a free Bible-based website that is easy to navigate and can help you to understand what Rick had come to believe and cherish as our hope for the future. If you desire, you can also make donations at this website.
