Ulrich Nuckelt

1938 - 2010

Our beloved father and grandfather, Ulrich Rick Nuckelt went to a better place on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010. He was 72.

He was born in Heilsberg, East Prussia in 1938, an only child, to Gerhard and Erna Nuckelt and grew up in Winzenberg, West Germany before immigrating to Indianapolis, Ind., with his parents and grandmother, Emilie Tomzik, in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961- 1963 while stationed in Fort Eustis, Va., and the U.S. Army reserves until 1967. He graduated with honors from Aresenal Tech Indianapolis in 1967 and worked for the Ford Motor Company before moving to Ventura where he has been a resident for 42 years.

While living in Ventura, Rick was employed by the MetLife Insurance Co. and Ventura College, as well as being self-employed as a painter. He had many interests including a longtime love of photography, gardening, cooking, fishing, living near the ocean, and exploring the mountains of Ojai. He loved music, especially jazz, and he enjoyed listening to public radio. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and enjoyed visiting the shooting range. Rick was an avid reader and was passionate about philosophy, religion, and science. He enjoyed intellectual conversation and had an equally developed sense of humor.

Rick was a warm and affectionate father who loved living on the California coast, which he enjoyed exploring with his family. He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Teresa Nuckelt-Genkel, husband Charles, and grandson Liam of Ventura; his son, Clayton Nuckelt, wife Lisa of Greenwood, Ind., and grandsons Nicholas, wife Cate of Ventura, Brandon, wife Ani of Virginia, and Tyler of North Carolina; his daughter, Ellen Marie Piles, husband Joe of Ventura and grandsons Reid of Arizona and John of New Mexico; and ex-wife, Nancy Stites of Delano.

Rick was preceded in death by his mother in 2009, his father in 1984, and his cousin, Hans Zillgitt of Arizona.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9, in the Chapel at Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura. Phone: 642-8134. Please visit our website to leave tributes: www.charlescarrollfuneralhome.com.