Jody Victor Clarence Nickel's Obituary
A celebration of Life will be held, Tuesday, 1:00 PM, July 19th at Columbia River Foursquare Church. Private burial will be held at Columbia Memorial Gardens. Jody passed away at home surrounded by family July 12th. He was 51 years old.
Jody Victor Clarence Nickel was born July 31, 1959 in Fargo, North Dakota and adopted by Clarence and Verona Niewoehner Nickel, he is the third of five children. The family moved from Willow City, North Dakota to Warren, Oregon in 1965 and eventually moved to St. Helens where Jody graduated from high school in 1977. Jody worked for Linnton Plywood during the 1980's and 1990's, owned and operated Raven's Espresso in St. Helens, worked at Freightliner as a mechanic and for the last several years for Union Pacific Railroad as a Conductor.
Jody loved the outdoors. He loved to fish, ride his four wheeler and motorcycle. He also loved to go camping and taking his 4 wheeler to Sand Lake, Winchester Bay, and to Little Sahara in Utah.
His love of mechanics and carpentry work combined with his passion for helping people provided an opportunity to serve those around him. Jody was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need and always did it with a smile.
During his high school years he played the organ at Calvary Lutheran Church in St. Helens and later would play the piano at home for personal enjoyment. For the last year he attended Columbia River Foursquare Church.
Jody also had a will to help other patients suffering from brain cancer to find the most effective way to battle and have the best possible life. He felt there were many alternatives to chemotherapy left to explore and knew that the pure desire to fight was the most important. He was a survivor and fighter for the last four years and lived his life to the fullest.
Jody is survived by his wife: Lisa; children: Josh of Phoenix, AZ; Brandon of Silverton, OR; K'lyn and Cody of St. Helens; granddaughter: Ariel of Phoenix, father: Clarence Nickel of St. Helens; siblings: David Nickel of St. Helens; Teresa Sato of Banning, CA; and Heidi Ralls of Deer Island, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Verona and his sister Bonnie.
Contributions can be made in his name to either the National Brain Tumor Society, 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D, Watertown, MA 02472 or Columbia River Foursquare Church, 555 Commons Way, St. Helens, OR 97051.
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