Bernice Louise Goodyk was born February 5, 1934, the youngest of ten children, to Johannes J. and Sadie (Spoelstra) Goodyk in Sully, Iowa.

Louise attended Brown and Andreas Country Schools. In fifth grade, she transferred to Sully Christian Grade School and graduated in 1948. She was a 1952 graduate of Pella Christian High School, graduating with top honors.

On February 27, 1953, Louise married Wilbur Nikkel in Sully. They were blessed with five children: Steven, Gweneth, Carolyn, Arthur and Jeffrey. Louise and Wilbur farmed near Newton, Sully and Prairie City, and moved to Pella in 1976. Over the years, Louise worked at Jasper County Savings Bank, Hilltop Manor, Metropolitan Federal Bank and most recently in the jewelry department at Walmart in Pella for 15 years.

Louise had been a member of Sully Christian Reformed Church and Prairie City Christian Reformed Church. She was a current member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella.

Louise was a faithful and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Some of her favorite pastimes were gardening, bird watching, baking, cooking and travelling. She enjoyed singing with the Gospelettes from Prairie City Christian Reformed Church for 20 years. Louise was also a member of the Precious Moments Club.

On Saturday, January 28, 2017, Louise's life on earth was complete, and she passed away peacefully at the Comfort House in Pella at the age of 82 years from complications of pneumonia.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children and their families:

Steven and Mimi (Carolyn) Nikkel of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Joshua and Victoria Nikkel
Sophia and Aurora
Jordan and Mary Nikkel

Gweneth and Galen Duckstein of Des Moines, Iowa
Amy and Jerad Penick
Owen and Ella
Bradley Duckstein

Carolyn and Bryan Harthoorn of Pella, Iowa
Nathan Nunnikhoven and Danielle Poling
Madison
Scott and Chelsea Nunnikhoven
Alexis, Kaleb, Treyton, Jaydon and Logan
Jaren and Erin Nunnikhoven

Arthur and Kristin Nikkel of Grayslake, Illinois
Sarah Nikkel
Kevin and Chelsi Nikkel

Jeffrey and Larry Hutchcroft-Nikkel of Marshalltown, Iowa

She is also survived by her sister Joanne Spykerman and in-laws: Joel Spykerman, Esther Goodyk, Anna Mae Nikkel, Harriet Zylstra, Lucille Nikkel, Joann Nikkel, Sylvia (Gysbert) Menninga, Bruce (Joyce) Nikkel, Nelson (Norma) Nikkel and many nieces and nephews.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband Wilbur in 1998, her mother in 1966, her father in 1954; her daughter-in-law Carol Nikkel in 2009; siblings and their spouses: Wiebe (Freda) Goodyk, Case Goodyk, Tena (Gerrit) Roose, Charlotte (Albert) Beyer, Peter (Gertrude) Goodyk, Henry (Betty) Goodyk, Adriana Roose, Jacob (Wilma) Goodyk; and in-laws: Cornelia (Fred) Loynachan, Jennie (John) Van Maanen, James Nikkel, Robert Zylstra, Edward Nikkel, Leo Nikkel, Jan Nikkel.

Visitation

2:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Family will be present 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

Funeral Services

12:30 P.M., Thursday, February 2, 2017
Calvary Christian Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

Memorials

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Pella Christian High School

Family

Husband: The late Wilbur Nikkel
Children: Steven and Mimi Nikkel, Chattanooga, TN
Gweneth and Galen Duckstein, Des Moines, Iowa
Carolyn and Bryan Harthoorn, Pella, Iowa
Arthur and Kristin Nikkel, Grayslake, Illinois
Jeffrey and Larry Hutchcroft-Nikkel, Marshalltown, Iowa