Edward Carl Nikkel was born near Shafter, California, on October 30, 1920, to Emma Reimer Nikkel and Jacob Nikkel. His father worked in a mercantile store and his mother was a homemaker. He had one younger brother, Milton, who preceded him in death and another brother, Howard Nikkel, of Reno, Nevada. Ed passed away on March 27, 2010, of natural causes at the age of 89 years. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Alma Helen Penner Nikkel. He and Alma met in the seventh grade at Maple School and they were married on September 29, 1941. Ed's childhood was spent during the Great Depression. He was baptized into the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church as a teenager. He learned piano from Frieda Enns Nikkel and was a star softball pitcher and tennis player in high school. He excelled in school and graduated from Shafter High School in 1938. He attended Bakersfield College and left to take a position with the Bank of America. In 1942 he was drafted in the Army Air Force and was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco and then in Salt Lake City from 1943 to 1945. His skills in bookkeeping and administrative functions led to his entire military service being state-side during World War II. His rank at discharge was sergeant. During their years in Utah, Ed and Alma made many friends and had their first child, James Allen Nikkel, who was born in 1943. Upon returning from service, Ed returned to work at the Bank of America but soon accepted a position with Frank Russell Manufacturing Company. Two more sons were born, Robert Edward in 1947 and Donald Ray in 1949. During these years, Ed was involved in designing and selling potato and cotton harvesters. He also found time to pitch on the Frank Russell Manufacturing softball team and began teaching his sons how to throw and pitch in the backyard of their house on Golden West Street in Shafter. As soon as his boys were old enough to play organized ball, he began to coach many of their teams and continued pitching well into his 30s. He was known for his fastball with a pronounced rise that no one could very well either emulate or hit. He was a lifelong Dodger fan and took his sons to major league games in Los Angeles for many years to see his beloved team. Ed enjoyed many hobbies including whittling and drawing along with reading and listening to a range of music from Buck Owens to classical, jazz and big bands. He and Alma also took their boys regularly to the Surfrider Motel in Santa Monica, as well as to the Central California Coast towns of Cayucos, Morro Bay, and later to Cambria where they purchased a cottage for the entire family's enjoyment. He and Alma also spent many hours in leadership with others such as Art and Violet Hemingson in activities of the Shafter MB Church Youth Group. There were many yearly trips to the Mission Springs Campground near San Jose, California. His favorite scripture passages revolved around the need to do what God expects of us and to do good and honor God in the process such as Psalms 121 and the Proverbs. Ed was much more likely to demonstrate his faith through action and his life rather than through preaching at people. His favorite hymns were old spirituals such as "Rock of Ages," "Love Divine" and "Amazing Grace", and others from the old Tabernacle Hymnal. After his years with Frank Russell Manufacturing, he worked for Central Valley Ford-Mercury as a Salesman and then Business Manager. He also worked for Maple Leaf Equipment Company as their General Manager and with Nikkel Iron Works in sales and management. He retired in 1986 after nearly 50 years in the work force. He was known as an honest and hardworking manager who excelled at creating good working relationships; and he instilled these qualities in his sons. Ed enjoyed reading westerns and biographies. He also entertained his family with unique sayings such as: "We haven't had so much fun since the pigs ate our little brother;" "I'm a fast runner, I just run too long in the same spot;" and "We have Armstrong Power Steering." In addition to his wife and three sons, he is survived by two daughters-in-law (Dr. Gina Firman Nikkel and Carol Enns), four grandchildren (Christopher, Jessica, Meredith and Lucas), and three great grandchildren (Sophie, Ethan and Eleanor). A graveside service will be held Thurs, April 1, at 10am at Shafter Memorial Park for Edward C. Nikkel, age, 89, of Shafter who passed away March 27, 2010. A memorial service will follow at 11am at Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church. Pastor Pat Coyle and Pastor Steve Penner will officiate the services.