Donald Ray Nickles entered into heaven’s gate at 3am on Sunday Jan. 14, 2024. He was the oldest of 5 boys, “the Quarters worth of Nickles” born in Dalton Nov. 12, 1933 to Henry and Ellen Nussbaum Nickles.

He grew up on the family farm northeast of Loudonville, graduating from LHS in 1951. He met the love of his life, O. Jeannette Heaton, the girl “with the darkest brown eyes” he had ever seen. They married in 1953 and resided in the Loudonville area buying his “Nick’s Nifty Fifty” farm in 1965.

Together they raised 6 kids – David (Alma), Margie, Jane (William- deceased) Vines, Douglas (Sherry), Karen (Dr. Robert) Martin, and Timothy (Denise). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by Jeannette, his wife of 62 yrs., his parents, siblings Jerry, Oris, Gene, and Peggy along with granddaughter Megan; survived by brother James(Nell) and sister-in-law Ruth Nickles.

“Don being Don,” his life was always an adventure often serving or helping someone in need. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord in 1948 at the McZena Hope Church. He served as Sunday School Supt., song and lay leader, and trustee. He became a Gideon and loved to hand out biblical testaments to school kids along with being a lay speaker. Jeannette also served on the Gideon Auxiliary and together they had over 70 years of combined service. He was currently a member of the Lakefork Hope Church.

He was drafted into the US Army in Jan. 1955 serving in the 10th Div. 35th Battalion in Europe during Operation Gyroscope. Don and Jeannette shared many trips and adventures over the years with his army buddies especially Dale Kitzmiller and his wife Shirley. Upon returning from the army, Don farmed with his Dad and many local farmers while also working at Mansfield Plumbing Products on both the old /new bowl line for approximately 40 yrs. on a shift that started coincidentally at 3am.

Being a lifelong farmer, he was a member of the Farm Bureau winning the award for most new member sign-up drive in 2008. He served as an agricultural director of the Loudonville Fair Board for 30 plus years and was given honorary director status. Don was a sexton at the Pioneer Cemetery over 40 years and was a faithful Red Cross donor with 25 plus gallons. In 2008, he was awarded the Mohican Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year for Outstanding Service in the Mohican area. He traveled on the Veterans’ Honor Bus to Washington DC.

Don loved the Loudonville area community and its people. He loved any event that had home cooking along with pie and desserts. Don thoroughly enjoyed the approximately 50 family members who recently celebrated his 90th birthday with a big dinner party at Southstreet Grill. Being of pure Swiss heritage, he never met a piece of chocolate or cheese he didn’t love. He stashed chocolate to share, especially with his brothers Jerry and Oris. Don also enjoyed sharing many special times with his brother-in-law Bill Heaton and his wife Jody.

Jeannette and Don continued the Nickles tradition of making Swiss New Year’s bread and sharing it with family and friends. His daughter Jane and he made 16 loaves just 2 weeks ago, handing it out in the “Nickles” official bread wrappers to family and friends. Don also volunteered and took many neighbors to doctors appointments or other personal business venues. He never saw a deck of euchre cards that stayed in the box and he usually played several times per week at various locations.

James 4:10 “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up” was Don’s favorite verse. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You have finished the course and are lifted up!

Memorial donations may be made in Don Nickles’ name to the Gideons International Ashland Camp P.O. Box 5 Ashland Ohio 44805 or Loudonville FFA Alumni – Greenhouse Fund on memo line to P.O. Box 332 Loudonville Ohio 44842.

Calling hours for family and friends will be at the Snyder Lindsey Funeral Home 123 N. Market St. in Loudonville Thursday Jan. 25 from 4-7pm.

Private family burial service including military honors and interment will be held 10am Friday Jan. 26, at Pioneer Cemetery, which overlooks the home farm where Don grew up.

Public Memorial Service will start at 11:30am on Friday, Jan. 26 followed by a fellowship dinner at Lakefork Hope Church located at 2115 Co. Rd. 175 Jeromesville Ohio. The Rev. Layton Broome and the Rev. Donald Earlenbaugh will officiate.

Snyder Funeral Home-Lindsey Chapel is honored to serve Don’s family and encourages you to share a memory or condolence to them at SnyderFuneralHomes.com.

Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes – Lindsey Chapel

Website: Snyderfuneralhomes.com