March 29, 2024

Edith Florence Nickell Harmeyer

Aug. 30, 2015

Edith Florence Nickell Harmeyer, 94, of Fort Madison, formerly of Baxter, died at 3:50 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, at The Kensington, Fort Madison. She was born June 17, 1921, at Keokuk, a daughter of Rollin and Manilla Lutz. On July 26, 1941, she married Hale Hoover Nickell. He preceded her in death in October of 1969. She later married Norbert Harmeyer May 8, 1977. He preceded her in death in October of 1998.

Edith graduated with honors from Keokuk High School in 1939. She was partner and co-owner of Nickell Funeral Home in Baxter, until 1970. She was the assistant to the CEO of the American Legion State Office until 1977. She then worked as bookkeeper at the Fort Madison Lumber Yard until her retirement. Edith was a member and officer of P.E.O. Chapter JO, a charter member of the Fort Madison Red Hatters and a member of Bridge Club. She was an Iowa Hawkeye season ticket holder and a member of the Hawkeye I-Club. She was a member of the Fort Madison Community Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered at the hospital for more than 20 years. She was a volunteer for the Tri-State Rodeo until 2014. She was a member of the St. John’s United Church of Christ, Fort Madison.

Edith is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Stuart (wife Rita) Nickell of Colorado; one sister, Kathleen Calvert of Seattle, Wash.; eight grandchildren, Jonathan Nickell of Colorado, Bradley Nickell of Utah, Todd Nickell of Minnesota, Elizabeth DiTamaso of Iowa, Jamie Anderson of Colorado, Chad Nickell of Colorado, Patricia Nord of Colorado and Daniel Nickell of Colorado; and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; one son Dr. Darryl Nickell; one sister Mary Louise Guild; and two brothers, Joe Lutz and Richard Lutz.

A funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Barr Memorial Chapel in Fort Madison. A committal service and burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Restland Cemetery in Baxter. A memorial has been established for the Fort Madison Community Hospital Foundation, contributions may be made at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison. Online condolences to the Edith Harmeyer Family may be made from the Barr Memorial Chapel at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.