Barbara Nickel

Barbara Nickel, 72, entered eternal life on March 14, 2026, at 8:34 p.m. Barbara was a cherished, compassionate, faithful, beloved, inspirational, generous, gentle, hard-working, kind-hearted, selfless, resilient, giving woman whose life was defined by showing up for others—again and again, without hesitation.

Born April 22, 1953, in Claremore, Oklahoma, Barbara was the daughter of Wendell and Carman (Patterson) Turner. When she was about 3 years old, she moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she attended Finn Elementary and Horace Mann Junior High, and later graduated from Heights High School. As a teenager, she joined the Civil Air Patrol, where she met her future husband, Tom.

Barbara and Tom began dating while they were both at Heights High School. After graduation, Tom left for the Navy, returning on Barbara’s birthday—when they married in 1972. They settled in Oxnard, California, where Tom was stationed, and welcomed their first son, Steve, in 1973 at the Naval Base. The family later moved back to Wichita, and in 1976 their second son, Jason, was born. In 1978, Barbara and Tom purchased a home east of Augusta, where Barbara lived ever since. Tom entered eternal life in 2024 after 52 years of marriage.

Barbara retired in 2017 after almost 50 years of helping people at her various jobs. Throughout her entire career, she was known for her kindness and generosity by coworkers and peers—qualities that were not just part of her work, but part of who she was.

Family and friends were Barbara’s life. It didn’t matter who someone was—she would attend sporting events, open her home, and make it clear that everyone was welcome. If someone needed her, they only had to say the words, and Barbara was there. Her two boys had six children, and she doted on them; being grandma was her favorite job. She also had seven great-grandchildren.

At the end of her life, Barbara gave one last, extraordinary gift: she was an organ donor, saving more lives and extending her legacy of compassion in the most profound way.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Wendell Turner; father and mother in-law, Lawrence and Barbara Nickel; her loving husband, Tom; grandson, Brayden; and sister in-law, Rhonda Delgado.

Barbara is survived by her mom, Carman Carpenter; sons, Steve Nickel and Jason Nickel; grandchildren, Tommy and Scotty Nickel, Nicci Nickel, Zane Nickel, Zarah Nickel; great-grandchildren, Daisy Nickel, Delilah Nickel, Bentley Nickel, Zaiven Nickel, Zuri Nickel, Zailas Nickel, Madelyn Nickel; sibling, Kathy (Terry) Wheeler, brother in-law Ron (Donna) Nickel, and Chris Nickel, Donnie (Brenda) Nickel, and Gilbert Delgado.

Visitation will take place from 10-11 AM on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Hillside Funeral Home West, located at 2929 West 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67203. The funeral service will begin at the same location at 11:00 AM. Committal will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate in her memory to a charity of your choosing.