John Richard Nickel, 78, of Barnardsville, NC passed away June 15, 2022, peacefully at home after an extended illness. John was born May 12, 1944, in Victor, NY to the late Vernon and Dorothy Nickel. He is also preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Mee of 32 years. John earned multiple degrees including Forestry, Landscape Design, and Landscape Architecture. He served our country for 26 years in the US Army and retired as a Master Sergeant. He enjoyed singing, drawing & painting, model railroading, woodworking, playing the accordion. John was a member of CORSA NC and NC Mountain Covairs where he helped organize Vairs in the Valley car show and picnics. He restored many different models of Covairs including a 1962 Rampside truck which he and his wife raced at several conventions. Surviving John is his son, John "JC" Nickel (Brenda) of Clarksville, TN; daughters, Dawn Nickel (Calvin Riggins) of Savannah, GA; Terri Janssen of Claremore, OK; sisters, Jane Owens of Cantonment, FL; June Gullace (Giovanni) of Victor, NY; Jean McMillan of Wayland, NY; Janet A Nickel of Barnardsville, NC; sister-in-law, Suzanne Orwig (Marvin) of Lewiston, ID; 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Corvair Preservation Foundation (CPF) Facilities Fund in his name. To to the family or in memory of John Richard Nickel, please