Dean Nickels passed away peacefully on October 30, 2020, doing what he loved – sitting in his lazy boy in his man cave, holding his beloved dog Peaches, and watching the Science channel on his newly purchased LG 55” OLED 4K TV.  Dean was born January 19, 1951 to James Nickels and Ruth Shafer Reilly in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Dean lived his early years in Fontana, Wisconsin where he, his brother David, and his cousin-brothers Jeff, Dewey, Bobby, and Dick wreaked havoc boating, swimming, and exploring the deep woods of Fontana. 

Dean moved to Madison as a teenager where his family met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Dean hated the missionaries, and would often greet their visits with picket signs and colorful language.  Things changed when Dean met a cute young girl named Betty Jeanne in Sunday School.  The things the missionaries were teaching suddenly became much more interesting.  He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and later attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Dean and Betty were married on May 30, 1972 in the Salt Lake City Temple.  Dean and Betty made their home in Pleasant Grove where they raised four kids, Jeremy, Andrea, Stacy, and Lindsey.  Dean worked in banking and for many years as the Treasurer of Orem City.  Dean loved music, singing, Chuck-A-Rama, the spicy goat dish at Ganesh Indian Cuisine, his black 2017 Honda Accord Coop Touring V6, the Science channel, dad jokes, the Green Bay Packers, and visiting his cherished homeland of Wisconsin.

Dean always felt like his greatest legacy was his family.  And if you ask our opinion, we turned out pretty great.  Dean is survived by his wife Betty Jeanne Hodgson Nickels; his son Jeremy Nickels (Laurel); his daughters, Andrea Nickels Peterson (Matthew), Stacy Nickels Furr (Daniel), and Lindsey Nickels Jorgensen (Devin); his mother Ruth Shafer Reilly; his brother David Nickels; his cousin-brothers Jeff Reilly, Dewey Reilly, Robert Reilly, and Richard Reilly; his dog Peaches; and his amazing grandchildren Hayley, Jacob, Clara, Alex, Zack, Miles, Canyon, Sophie, Max, Oakley, Beckam, Kate, Jack, Phoenix, and Daphne.  Dean was preceded in death by his father James Nickels and his stepfather Robert Reilly.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 1:00 pm in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.   Social distancing and masks are highly recommended.   Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.