Elmer Joseph Nickels

Nickels, Elmer Joseph "EJ" Elmer Joseph “EJ” Nickels, age 82, of Hudsonville, was called to his heavenly home on Sunday, October 21, 2012.  He was a kind and gentle man who had a contagious smile which could light up a room.  His strong work ethic led him, in 1962, to own and operate Grapewood Frame and Axle for 40 years, until he retired.  Following retirement, he and his wife Carol, spent many winters in Tucson, AZ enjoying time together and especially taking pleasure in his love of golf.  As an avid golfer, Elmer enjoyed working at Glen Eagle Golf course for the past 18 years.  He was known by many of his golfing friends as the “Silver Fox”.  He was blessed with being a talented handyman.  There was never a job or task that was too challenging for him to figure out.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Patricia (Eardley); granddaughter, Lindsay Jolliffe; sister, Linda Potjer.  He will be dearly missed by his wife of 33 years, Carol; his children, Mary Kay and Scott Kelley, JoEllen Jolliffe, Patty and Ron Dressander, Karen and Rick Sadler, Beth Nickels, Penny and Brad Banaszak, Sherry and Dan Bowen; step children, David and Liz Neff, Nancy Klein, Karen and Charlie Bostwick, Sheri and Mike Bergsma; 28 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sister, Bernice Wiest; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Catherine Eardley, Eileen Hillebrand, Millie Eardley, Eileen Eardley, John and Pat Potjer, Joyce and Larry Giberson, Roger and Nancy Weller, Paul Weller and Susan Miller, Jeanne and Len Postema; many nieces, nephews and cousins that he dearly loved.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am on Friday at St. Pius X, 3937 Wilson Ave. SW, Grandville with Fr. Chris Rouech Celebrant.  Interment Resurrection Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may meet the family on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home, (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Drive where a rosary will be recited at 8pm. A time of visitation will also be held Friday from 10-11am at church prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association.