LeRoy James Nickel, 83, of Ellsworth, died Wednesday, February 25, 2015, surrounded by his family at United Hospital, St. Paul, MN.

LeRoy was born on September 7, 1931 in the town of El Paso, Pierce County, the son of Frank A. and Lena (Guepfer) Nickel. He was a 1949 graduate of Ellsworth High School. He served in the US Army from December of 1951 until his honorable discharge in November of 1953.

LeRoy married Shirley Swanson on July 7, 1955 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Clayfield, WI. He worked at the Red Wing Shoe Company as a sole cutter for 45 years, retiring in 1994. LeRoy farmed for many of those years on his farm outside of Ellsworth.

LeRoy enjoyed reading, listening to “Old time music” but most of all socializing with his family and friends. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth, and the Kinne-Englehart American Legion, Ellsworth.

Preceding him in death were his parents, a brother Frank C. Nickel, and brothers in-law, Kenny Cook, Sid Clobes and John Larson.

LeRoy is survived by his loving wife of almost 60 years, Shirley.
Children: Renee Fogerty, Rosemount, MN; Lynette (Michael) Pfremmer, River Falls, WI; Michael (Peggy) Nickel, Baldwin, WI; Beth (Paul) Lund, St. Paul, MN; Wayne Nickel, Somerset, WI.
Grandchildren: Dan (Kristen) Fogerty, Erin (Ryan, Sr.) Coleman, Bryan (Tiffany) Pfremmer, Todd Pfremmer, Spencer Nickel, Simone (Stephen) Sika, Andy and Matt Lund.

Great-grandchildren: Alyssa Coleman, Ryan Coleman, Jr., and Elouise Igou.

Sisters: Marcele Cook, Cleone Clobes, and Della Larson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30am, Monday, March 2, 2015 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth, WI. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8pm on Sunday at the Hill Funeral Home, Ellsworth, WI and for one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Monday.

Go to www.hillfuneralservice.com to share a memory of LeRoy!

Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ellsworth, WI is serving the family.