Charles Allen NickelLeroy, KS

Charles Allen Nickel, 80, a life-long resident of LeRoy, Kansas, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, surrounded by his family at Select Specialty Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.

Charles was born on February 3, 1945, to Charles A. Nickel, Jr. and Grace A. (Gilmore) Nickel in Emporia, Kansas. He attended Lauderdale country school through the 8th grade, then attended LeRoy High School. After graduating, he began farming with his father on the family farm and continued to operate the farm his whole life. His work on the farm had slowed down over the past few years but he never fully retired, running the combine for his last harvest this past fall. His farming operation always included running International Harvester equipment, then later Case IH equipment. He passed his love of “red” tractors on to his son and grandsons. He also passed down a family tradition of driving Chevy trucks, with all four grandchildren driving Chevy trucks.

He married Donna M. Merrill on November 3, 1968, at the First Christian Church in LeRoy. They shared 57 years of marriage and enjoyed farming and raising a family together – a son, Craig, and a daughter, Karen. He enjoyed taking the family on annual vacations driving to see sites in many midwestern states. There were also annual trips to the Missouri and Kansas State Fairs to see the antique and hot rod tractor pulls. After the kids were grown, he and Donna enjoyed trips to Branson, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and visiting out-of-state family.

Charles enjoyed attending his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s school and sporting events throughout his life. He was a member of the First Christian Church of LeRoy, serving many years as a deacon, elder and board treasurer. He also served many years on the Avon Township board. In his younger years, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends at card parties and neighborhood get-togethers. In his later years, he enjoyed drinking coffee with his friends - sometimes twice a day. He did not know a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone.

Throughout his life he enjoyed hunting pheasant, quail, turkey, rabbit, and deer, and fishing for catfish in the Neosho River. Hunting was so important to him that soon after returning from their honeymoon, he and Donna headed to LaCrosse, Kansas, to go pheasant hunting. He loved hunting and fishing with friends and family alike and instilled that love of hunting in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He provided many meals for his family from his bounty. He also enjoyed bringing friends and family together for fish frys, and delighted in watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in trapshooting contests.

Charles is survived by his wife, Donna, of the home; his children, Craig Nickel (Crystal) of LeRoy and Karen Mitchell (Mike) of Topeka; his grandchildren, Courtney Nickel of LeRoy, Thomas Nickel (Josie) of Burlington, Cyrus and Charley Nickel of LeRoy; and great-grandchildren, Gage and Chevy Nickel of LeRoy, and Hazel Nickel of Burlington. He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant brother, Walter.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 6, 2026, at the First Christian Church in LeRoy, Kansas. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Burlington, Kansas.

The family will greet friends from 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. Thursday, February 5, at the First Christian Church in LeRoy, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of LeRoy or Southern Coffey County Trapshooting, in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, Kansas 66839.

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