William E.L. Nickell

William E.L. "Elmer" Nickell, 83, of Hampton, Illinois, passed away October 15, 2015, at the home of his daughter, Debbie, in Hampton.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 26, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Cremation at Trimble Crematory will take place prior to services, with burial at Rock Island National Cemetery, where the Moline American Legion Post #246 will present military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be to the family for a contribution in his name to homeless veterans.

William Elmer Lee Nickell was born November 12, 1931, in Lineville, Iowa, the son of Bertie and Ellen (Davis) Nickell. He spent the first half of his life in the Mercer, Missouri, and Lineville, Iowa areas. He was married to Joan Fair and they had two daughters, Linda Lea and Deborah Miann. He served in the U.S. Army.

He worked at Hy-Vee and owned the service station in Mercer. They later moved to the Quad City area, where he eventually retired from J.I. Case. He later married Diane Neely, and gained three step-children, Michael, Debbie, and Robert.

William had a non-stop sense of humor. The poor nurses, aides, and doctors will never forget, we are sure. He had a love of yard mowing, he always had a huge garden and loved sharing his bounty. He was an avid fisherman and mushroom hunter.

The last few years of his time on Earth were spent with his girls. He would take his great-grandgirls to the park, for a walk, and would sit and play with them endlessly. His family was blessed to watch him, at 83, be such an active part of their lives.

Those left to mourn his passing are his daughter, Deborah Weber; a son-in-law, John (Maureen) Carter; grandkids, Donald (Crystal) Carter, John (Yadira) Carter, Tanya (Eugene) Roman, Ronald (Nikki) Carter, Gregory Weber, Mianna Kirk, Amy Weber, and Brittany (Kraig Karzin) Weber; many great-grandkids including his girls who spent every day with him, Mackenzie, Hannah, Emery, and Kya Lynn; his best friend (his dog) Paco; his brother, Raymond (Darla), and their family; his sister-in-law, Anna, and her family; and his step-children, Debbie and Robert, and their kids and grandkids. Those who passed to light the way for him are his mother; father; sister, Lannie; brother, J.B.; both wives; a stepson, Mike; and the light of his life, his daughter, Linda Lea.

The family would like to thank his aides, nurses, doctors, hospice staff, and everyone who helped him through this very sad time.

To our Dad: "Grow a huge garden, catch some fish, mow those lawns, you and Linda drive around the lake, buy those cars, and have a beer or two. We are all richer in life for having known you and your light will forever shine bright for us."

Visit Elmer's personal tribute page at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com to share stories and condolences, and light a free candle in his memory.