Robert Henry Nickel of Winkler gently and peacefully passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025. Robert was born in Winkler on June 30, 1957, to Henry and Elma Nickel. Robert grew up near Plum Coulee, spent most of his adult years in B.C., and then returned to Winkler in more recent years where he very much enjoyed reconnecting with family and his childhood friends, also making a good number of new ones.
Mentored by his dad, Robert was introduced to work in the excavating and trenching trade, which got him jobs first in Winnipeg, then Edmonton, and finally with BC Hydro. Upon his return to Winkler, Robert spent some years as custodian at Garden Valley Collegiate, his alma mater. Having an adventurous spirit, Robert forever dreamt of being on the road. Much of this he fulfilled riding his motorcycle, but also near the end of his working life he acted on this dream when he took on a trucking stint that took him all over western Canada and into the USA. He found this to be a vocation fraught with danger, especially winter in the mountains, but the fascinating characters he met along the way more than made up for it. The interruptions of COVID on the trucking industry brought this adventure to an end, which freed Robert up to be the primary companion for his mother during the COVID years, which he tackled with absolute devotion and then continued as her cook and caregiver through her remaining years. His love of cooking and caring for others was then directed toward his very dear friends at Lions Manor, his home.
A gifted storyteller, Robert had a knack for coloring just about any encounter with people into a book-worthy story. In his many travels he collected a most intriguing and diverse cast of characters which he skillfully wove into his numerous anecdotes, sharing these enthusiastically with family and friends. This extended to the children in his life, each one of whom he wholly adored. Without a doubt children, there was a story he cherished and told about each and every one of you. All listeners to these stories would be captivated by Robert's exuberant, unique laugh and his own enjoyment in the telling. Robert was very much encouraged to document his stories which he was reluctant to do but we know of one that was in fact published in a popular magazine. A number of his human rights advocacy articles were also published in local papers in B.C.
Robert had diverse interests from motorcycles, vintage machines, tractors in particular, first rock and roll and then country folk music, both in which he was exceptionally knowledgeable, fishing, caregiving, and of course his love of children, friends, and people in general. He was keen to volunteer where he could and particularly enjoyed helping out at the Threshermen's Museum, participating in parades, and cooking for his friends at the outdoor gatherings at the Lions Manor.
As a child, Robert attended Sunday School at the Plum Coulee Sommerfeld Mennonite Church and then the Church of God through his teenage years. As a boy he enthusiastically participated in Boys League at the Plum Coulee Bergthaler Mennonite Church. These past years he enjoyed the services at the Buhler Centre in Winkler. Recently he experienced a renewed zest for his faith and was very much looking forward to going to his heavenly home.
Robert will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his sisters: Judy Nickel, Irene and Rob Patterson, Janet and Harold Pauls, Grace Nickel and Michael Zajac; his brother Jim Nickel and Candice McDiarmid; his nieces and nephews: Angela and Nathan Gerbrandt, Julia and Brad Minnis, Richard and Mandi Pauls, John Patterson and Rachael Thorleifson, Jeffrey Pauls, Joseph Nickel; and great-nieces and great-nephews: Taylor and Lauren Minnis, Zachary, James and Riley Gerbrandt, Jacob and Cooper Pauls; Uncle John Wiebe and Aunt Helen Wiebe, Aunt Kathy Loewen; many cousins; many, many friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Elma Nickel.
The family thanks the wonderful doctors and staff at Boundary Trails Health Centre who provided Robert and the family with the most compassionate care and support. Southern Manitoba is blessed to have such quality professionals. A special thank you also for all who visited Robert during his hospital stay and to the very helpful team at the Wiebe’s Funeral Home in Winkler.
The family is immensely grateful to all at the Harvest Christian Fellowship (Plum Coulee) who have been most generous in making our funeral arrangements happen during this busy Christmas season.
A funeral service will be held at the Harvest Christian Fellowship in Plum Coulee, Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with interment at the Weidenfeld Cemetery prior to the funeral at 12:30. Donations in memory of Robert may be made to Katie Cares Cottage.
Mentored by his dad, Robert was introduced to work in the excavating and trenching trade, which got him jobs first in Winnipeg, then Edmonton, and finally with BC Hydro. Upon his return to Winkler, Robert spent some years as custodian at Garden Valley Collegiate, his alma mater. Having an adventurous spirit, Robert forever dreamt of being on the road. Much of this he fulfilled riding his motorcycle, but also near the end of his working life he acted on this dream when he took on a trucking stint that took him all over western Canada and into the USA. He found this to be a vocation fraught with danger, especially winter in the mountains, but the fascinating characters he met along the way more than made up for it. The interruptions of COVID on the trucking industry brought this adventure to an end, which freed Robert up to be the primary companion for his mother during the COVID years, which he tackled with absolute devotion and then continued as her cook and caregiver through her remaining years. His love of cooking and caring for others was then directed toward his very dear friends at Lions Manor, his home.
A gifted storyteller, Robert had a knack for coloring just about any encounter with people into a book-worthy story. In his many travels he collected a most intriguing and diverse cast of characters which he skillfully wove into his numerous anecdotes, sharing these enthusiastically with family and friends. This extended to the children in his life, each one of whom he wholly adored. Without a doubt children, there was a story he cherished and told about each and every one of you. All listeners to these stories would be captivated by Robert's exuberant, unique laugh and his own enjoyment in the telling. Robert was very much encouraged to document his stories which he was reluctant to do but we know of one that was in fact published in a popular magazine. A number of his human rights advocacy articles were also published in local papers in B.C.
Robert had diverse interests from motorcycles, vintage machines, tractors in particular, first rock and roll and then country folk music, both in which he was exceptionally knowledgeable, fishing, caregiving, and of course his love of children, friends, and people in general. He was keen to volunteer where he could and particularly enjoyed helping out at the Threshermen's Museum, participating in parades, and cooking for his friends at the outdoor gatherings at the Lions Manor.
As a child, Robert attended Sunday School at the Plum Coulee Sommerfeld Mennonite Church and then the Church of God through his teenage years. As a boy he enthusiastically participated in Boys League at the Plum Coulee Bergthaler Mennonite Church. These past years he enjoyed the services at the Buhler Centre in Winkler. Recently he experienced a renewed zest for his faith and was very much looking forward to going to his heavenly home.
Robert will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his sisters: Judy Nickel, Irene and Rob Patterson, Janet and Harold Pauls, Grace Nickel and Michael Zajac; his brother Jim Nickel and Candice McDiarmid; his nieces and nephews: Angela and Nathan Gerbrandt, Julia and Brad Minnis, Richard and Mandi Pauls, John Patterson and Rachael Thorleifson, Jeffrey Pauls, Joseph Nickel; and great-nieces and great-nephews: Taylor and Lauren Minnis, Zachary, James and Riley Gerbrandt, Jacob and Cooper Pauls; Uncle John Wiebe and Aunt Helen Wiebe, Aunt Kathy Loewen; many cousins; many, many friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Elma Nickel.
The family thanks the wonderful doctors and staff at Boundary Trails Health Centre who provided Robert and the family with the most compassionate care and support. Southern Manitoba is blessed to have such quality professionals. A special thank you also for all who visited Robert during his hospital stay and to the very helpful team at the Wiebe’s Funeral Home in Winkler.
The family is immensely grateful to all at the Harvest Christian Fellowship (Plum Coulee) who have been most generous in making our funeral arrangements happen during this busy Christmas season.
A funeral service will be held at the Harvest Christian Fellowship in Plum Coulee, Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with interment at the Weidenfeld Cemetery prior to the funeral at 12:30. Donations in memory of Robert may be made to Katie Cares Cottage.