Elsie (Penner) Nickel, age 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at her apartment at Legend of Hutchinson with her family present.  She was born March 27, 1929, in Buhler to her parents Dietrick and Agnes Penner.  She was born in the family farmhouse.  She married Harold (Nick) Nickel on September 24, 1948.  He preceded her in death after 63 years of marriage. She also had worked at a chicken hatchery in Buhler candling eggs after she completed her education at Buhler. She later worked at Nelson Music, Hutchinson National Bank and FarMarCo, all in Hutchinson. She completed business courses at Adlehale Business College and the American Institute of Banking. She was an active member of First Church of the Nazarene in Hutch for nearly 75 years.  She was best known for her volunteering for 20 years to cook the church youth group their Wednesday night meals, all from scratch. This service brought her great satisfaction and lifelong friends. It became her passion and likely extended her life. She also did special event meals at the church such as funerals and other groups. Her sweet and savory crepes were a very popular item.  If you were special, she would surprise you with crepes delivered to your home or pick up at her house. She made a large batch of crepes for her new friends at Legends Retirement two months ago.

Elsie was raised in the Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church where she accepted Christ as her personal savior while in grade school. Her faith was the single most important element in her life. It served as her foundation, joy, and refuge. She loved gospel music, particularly Southern Gospel. She created and directed a regular Sunday morning gospel music radio program on Hutchinson radio for many years.

In 2004 she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given less than 12 months. She loved to tell the story of how the church Youth Group prayed for her the night before her cancer surgery. The next day, the surgeon took a new x-ray prior to surgery and the cancer was gone and never returned. The surgeon told her it was an unexplained miracle. That was her testimony the rest of her life which she shared with anyone who needed a word of encouragement. She is survived by her sons Gary (Jeanne) of Dallas and Paul (Diana) of Manhattan; a brother, Jesse (Jeanne); plus six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, all of whom she was convinced were way above average. She had a servant's heart and will be missed by many.

A funeral service will be at 10 A.M. on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Inspire Church (formerly First Nazarene Church), 4290 N. Monroe St, Hutchinson, KS with Pastor Mark Hall officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave, Hutchinson, KS.  Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5905 W. 4th Ave, Hutchinson.  Memorial donations may be made to First Nazarene Church Youth Group and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.

Service will be live streamed at www.inspirehutch.church

http://player.tributecenteronline.com/99255