Daniel Nickel passed away on June 17, 2020 in Salmon Arm, BC, at the age of 91. He was born in Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan on October 3, 1928. During his childhood Dan’s parents, Peter and Katherine Nickel, moved their family of nine children from Glenbush, Saskatchewan to Yarrow, BC and then to Abbotsford, BC.
Dan married Helen Martens October 7, 1949 in Sardis, BC. He worked as a mechanical engineer in Vancouver during the 1950s into the early 60s. Four sons were born to Dan and Helen: Larry (1951), Gordon (1953), Ron (1958), and John (1960).
Dan studied at Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg, 1963-65, after which Dan and Helen served as missionaries under the Mennonite Brethren Church in the Hyderabad area of India, 1965-73 and 1983-85. Within this 20-year period Dan and Helen also served as missionaries in Jakarta, Indonesia, 1975-80.
Between missionary terms Dan studied at UBC, Vancouver (1973-4) and Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California (1980-81, M.A.), developing a deeper knowledge of Islam and Missiology.
Before the final term in India, Dan joined the pastoral staff at Bakerview Mennonite Brethren Church in Clearbrook, BC, 1982-3, and continued to serve there 1985-94. During the 1990s Dan and Helen began a series of 12 short-term mission stints in India with Church Partnership Evangelism, now known as Disciple Making International. Their final campaign was in 2001.
Dan’s wife Helen died in 2011, after which Dan moved to Eagle Bay, BC, and finally to Salmon Arm from 2013. He is buried in the Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery in Abbotsford. Dan is survived by his four sons Larry (Edna), Gordon (Gwenyth), Ron (Karen), and John (Sue); 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
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