Robert "Bobby" Allen Nickel Sr.

Robert Allen “Bobby” Nickel, 64, was called home to the Lord on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a long battle with congestive heart failure and other complications.

Bobby was born on June 14, 1957, to William Eugene and Fay Lorain (Fiew) Nickel in Ganado, Texas. He spent most of his childhood years in Edna and Victoria. His father, Willie Nickel, taught him many trades and skill sets; especially carpentry, plumbing, and electric work, but he also helped in Willie’s body shop, helping to prepare the vehicles for painting. At a very young age, he and his siblings tore down a family farmhouse, board by board, removing nails and preparing the wood and fixtures to be used to build a home at 1305 Green Street in Edna, Texas.

In the summer of 1972, Bobby went to live with his mother, Fay Rhoades, in Elgin, Texas, where he was welcomed into the small-town community with open arms. One of his fondest memories was when his mother owned City Café from 1969 to 1979. At the age of 16, he was a short-order cook, a dishwasher, and a pick-up and delivery boy. He learned the cooking trade from Ralph Perez, who ran a very tight kitchen, and Bobby was famous for upsetting all of Ralph’s well-ordered structure and plans. Ralph would send Bobby to Q & S or Williams Grocery to pick up onions, lemons, or whatever and Bobby would take a “long” detour to Pop’s Place to shoot a game or two of pool. Ralph would be fuming and threatening to quit because Bobby was nowhere to be found, but Fay knew exactly where to find him. She would march the block down to Pop’s Place and there he would be. He would look up and say, “Mother, get out of here; women are not allowed.” And Fay would yell back, “Don’t you tell me what to do! You shut up and get back to the café.” When he would get back, Ralph would chew him up one side and down the other, but when it got busy, they put their white chef hats on and got down to business. By the end of the day, all was forgiven and they were best friends again … until the next time.

He started his freshman year at Elgin High School under the watchful eye of Principal “Papa Jack” Flinn. Bobby loved to play chess and was instrumental in getting a chess club started at the Elgin High School, one of his bragging rights, and he proudly wore #78 on his purple and white Wildcat football jersey. He graduated from E.H.S. in 1976 and remained close to his high school classmates, two of whom were with him just before he passed away. He was and always will be a member of the 76’ers, consisting of alumni from the EHS Class of 1976.  Upon graduation, Bobby apprenticed under W.K. Jennings Electric and retired as a union electrician after many years of service from Local 520 IBEW. He was a member of the Lost Pines Cowboy Church in Elgin.

Bobby’s greatest gift was his ability to love. He has helped so many “unknown” people in his lifetime. If he saw a need, he simply took care of it without a lot of fanfare and expected nothing in return. He was famous for his smile of welcome, his blue eyes, and his charm. He never knew a stranger and he had a knack for making everyone feel special. His favorite hang-out was Lucy’s Kitchen in downtown Elgin where so many of his friends would gather.

Bobby was active in his community. He loved coaching baseball and soccer and did this faithfully for many years. He was still actively coaching (from the stands) his grandson, Easton’s, baseball team until his death. He helped with Relay for Life, the Hogeye Festival, and many other community activities.

Bobby doted on his grandchildren, Easton Cole Nickel and Jayden Rylee Nickel, with great love and affection. They were his little “sidekicks” and his world. Another great love in his life were his dogs: Rocky, Juno, and Lucy, but ultimately Bobby’s greatest joy in life were his two kids Robert Nickel, Jr. & Brittany Eller.

He was preceded in death by his father, W. E. Nickel; his stepmother, Annie Lucille Nickel; his brothers, Charles William Nickel and Michael Anthony Nickel; his foster brother, Johnny Fitzgerald; and his great-niece, Hannah Rebecca Rodriguez.

He is survived by his son, Robert Allen “BJ” Nickel, Jr. and his wife Brittney (Stone) of Elgin; his daughter, Brittany Eller and husband Ryan of Blue; his son, Ryan Rachui of Killeen; his mother, Fay (Fiew) Newman of Elgin; his brother, Ronald David Nickel and wife Pam (Branum) of Elgin; his sister, Doris Faye Rodriguez and husband Ricky of Elgin, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members. He would especially like to acknowledge Mitzi Meyers, Brenda Nickel, Kimberly Merrell Bostic, and Kenny Merrell.

Our deepest gratitude to pallbearers, Floyd Bowen, Brett Ingalls, Donnie Lane, Joey Miller, Jeffrey Moore, Harlan Neidig, and Rob Stewart … and special thanks to nurses Tillie and Babb from Cella Bella, Lisa Grady, Steve Banda, and Steve Balch for their loving support and assistance.

A viewing will be held Wednesday, February 9th from 12pm-6pm, the family will be present from 4 pm to 6 pm at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home, 604 Highway 95 North, Elgin, Texas.

A Celebration of Bobby's Life will be held Thursday, February 10th at the Lost Pines Cowboy Church at 10am, 334 Roemer Rd, Elgin, Texas.

Interment will follow in the Elgin Cemetery.