James Victor Nickel

Jim Nickel was cleared for his last take-off on August 3, 2023 in Rochester, Minn.

He was born to Ethel A. (Reichelt) and Victor W. Nickel on October 27, 1947 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

Jim graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965, and went on to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where he graduated in 1969 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Most of Jim’s professional career was at Motorola. He started in Cleveland, OH., as the Systems Engineering Manager, and then the Manager of Engineering Services, eventually ending up at the Motorola headquarters in Schaumburg, IL.

Jim had a penchant for both public safety and underground radio communications. He designed many innovative radio systems that were employed in the salt mines underneath Lake Erie in Ohio, as well as coal mines in both Kentucky and West Virginia. He took this knowledge to Europe as a communication systems design consultant for the Chunnel that links England and France deep below the English Channel.

His expertise in public safety communications may have begun when he helped develop radio telemetry between ambulances and emergency rooms. In retirement, he was often still sought after to consult for police and fire communications systems.

While employed at Motorola, Jim earned a Masters in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH.

After retiring from Motorola as a Vice-President of National Engineering Services, Jim taught Physics as an adjunct professor at Triton College in Chicago.

He went on to Green Bay, Wisconsin where he was the director of the Brown County Public Safety Communications Department and oversaw the 9-1-1 Center. He planned the design and oversaw the construction of a new public safety communications center building. In 2010, Jim was named as “A Person to Know” by the Bay Business Journal Magazine in Green Bay for his work on the new public safety communications center.

After retiring “for real this time,” Jim moved to Hayward, WI. where he fulfilled a dream: he had a pontoon boat AND a place to put it.

Jim loved aviation. He was a private pilot and an aircraft owner. Jim became a charter member of Lifeline Pilots, and is a past- president of this organization of private pilots who volunteer their services and aircraft to provide free air transportation to those who have medical or humanitarian needs.

In the Town of Spider Lake, Jim saw some other opportunities to volunteer. He served on the Town's Health and Safety committee for two years and was instrumental in helping the Town secure and enhance a cell tower for emergency communications. He also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Jim loved Meteorology. He was a Weather Spotter for the SkyWarn project. He not only enjoyed, but was very proud of the lectures about the importance of Meteorology to Aviation that he presented at Northland College. His personal weather station on Teal Lake gave him a lot of pleasure.

Jim served as a member of the Board of Directors for Palwaukee Airport (now Chicago Executive) in the Chicago area. Recently, Jim was honored to be appointed to the Sawyer County Airport Master Plan Public Advisory Committee. He was looking forward to contributing to their efforts.

He was a member of the BlueBatNet, a group of retired Motorolans who enjoy communications via amateur ham radio. Unfortunately, N9GKS will no longer be signing in.

Every Friday morning Jim got up before sunrise to have coffee and conversation with his very good friends, members of “The Knights of the Round Table” at the River Street Restaurant. He greatly enjoyed their company. 

Jim was the definition of a devoted Green Bay Packers fan. His enthusiasm during games was legendary. If they were losing, you always could count on the cats running away in terror when Jim was yelling at the TV.

Jim is survived by his wife, Donna, their sons Nate (Sarah) and Rob (Rie), granddaughter, Samantha, and a brother, Tom. In addition to them, he will be greatly missed by his feline buddy, Roscoe.

A private memorial gathering will be held for James at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to LifeLine Pilots, 4507 N Sterling Ave., Suite 402, Pioria IL, 61615.