Obituary: Katherine Gladys Nickel

Katherine Gladys Nickel (nee Franzen), 69, formerly of Des Plaines and Mt. Prospect passed away December 14.  

Katherine was born March 4, 1943 in Evanston, IL and died in Belvidere Illinois surrounded by her loved ones.  

Kathy is survived by her husband of 50 years, David Alden Nickel, her four children David (Kim), John, Jeff (Venessa) and Amy (Michael).  She was blessed with 13 grandchildren whom she cherished deeply:  Taylor, Kelly, Abigail, Lily, Emma, Jack, Charlie, Samantha, Amelia, Vinny, Jamie, Lauren, and Allie. She is also survived by her brother David (June) Franzen, sister, Mary (Robert) DelVecchio, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mary Franzen (nee Schneck).

Kathy graduated from Maine West High School in 1961.  She attended Moser Secretarial School in Chicago and soon after moved to California after marrying her high school sweetheart, David Alden Nickel, June 30, 1962.  There she worked for Aircraft Tools and supported Dave as he attended aviation school.

After moving back to Illinois, Kathy held jobs at Littlefuse, McDonald’s, Williams Real Estate, and finally retired from Prospect High School.  Throughout the years Kathy was known to assist with the school PTA, drive neighborhood children to school, arrange rides for friends undergoing cancer treatments, often donated blood, and generally assisted friends whenever and however she could.

Kathy raised her children in Mt. Prospect in a loving home on Emerson Street. After retirement they moved to Phelps, WI to live the true Northwoods lifestyle. The lake and tranquility were no match for family, however, and they soon moved back to Illinois and resided in Belvidere.

Her compassion and empathy will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 18, from 3 p.m. until the time of funeral service at 7:30 p.m., at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, in Palatine. Interment will take place at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery, Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin, where her parents and grandparents are buried.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org online or gifts may be sent to: Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Liburn, GA 30047.  

For more information, call 847-358-7411 or visit the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home website. 

Information provided by Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home.