Carroll J. Nickle

According to his birth certificate, Carroll was born in Clearfield, Iowa on April 19, 1930 to James D. and Maggie (Muir) Nickle; however his mother said he was born April 20, Easter Sunday that year (we think his mother probably knew best!). Carroll moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado with his family in 1931, where they farmed and ranched.

Carroll graduated from Fort Morgan High in 1948 and then joined the Air Force, serving from September 1948 to September 1949. On December 26, 1948, he married his high school sweetheart, Vivian J. (Bryen), whom he had known throughout most of his early years in school and church. After discharge from the Air Force, Carroll and Vivian returned to Fort Morgan and started their family. They moved to Greeley in 1953, where they lived until Carroll’s work took him to Denver in 1978. They returned to Greeley in 2012.

Carroll worked hard alongside his parents and siblings in Fort Morgan where he especially enjoyed his horses and running farm equipment. Love for the equipment won out and the majority of his working years were related to heavy construction equipment. When he first came to Greeley, he worked as an equipment operator at Great Western Sugar Company. He owned and operated Carroll Nickle Crane Service in the 1960’s. His hard work, ethics and knowledge of heavy equipment led him to opportunities to work for other construction companies including Hensel Phelps, where he served as equipment manager, and he finished his career with Honnen Equipment as general manager of equipment sales and Vice President of crane sales before retiring in 1996. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Commerce City and participated in various professional construction-related organizations throughout his career.

Carroll was a member of First Christian Church in Fort Morgan, Greeley and Denver and also attended Wellshire Presbyterian in Denver. He served in many capacities in the churches he attended, enjoyed visiting elderly home-bound church members and served on the Board of the Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home.

Carroll loved and was extremely proud of his wife, children and grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling by car with Vivian in the mountains and throughout the States, but also enjoyed some special overseas excursions.

Carroll passed away March 19, 2017 in Greeley. He is survived by his wife, Vivian; children John (Sharon) Nickle of Colorado Springs and Connie (Rich) Davis of Greeley; grandchildren Eric and Tyler (Molly) Nickle, Heather and Kelly Davis; sister Donna Jean Childs of Arlington, Texas and brother Bob Nickle of Windsor, Colorado He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dale Nickle and sister Marian Gilbaugh.

A memorial service for Carroll will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in the chapel at Bonell Good Samaritan, 708 22nd Street, Greeley, CO followed by a reception in Bonell’s fellowship hall.

Carroll was deeply loved and will be missed by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor his memory may do so by making a contribution to the Tennyson Center for Children, 2950 Tennyson St., Denver, CO 80212; First Christian Church, 2230 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631; or a charity of choice.