Mark Nickelson

Funeral services for Mark Nickelson, 65, of Ankeny, will be held on Thursday, September 11th, 2025 at Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton at 6:00pm. A visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 4:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Almost Home Animal Rescue in Chariton, Iowa.
Mark Richard Nickelson was born on April 29th, 1960 in Knoxville, Iowa to Keith and Gail Nickelson.
For 15 years, Mark faithfully served in the Air Force and worked across the world as an aviation mechanic and crew chief. Mark relocated to Phoenix, Georgia, North Carolina and finally back to Iowa to start a new career in telecommunications. Along with his two brothers (Terry Nickelson & Jay Nickelson), Mark embraced the telecom career field and served alongside many great coworkers and friends at Camp Dodge in the network operations center. Just recently, Mark was able to retire, which was prior to a long medical illness.
Mark's family remember him as fun-loving and always a comedian. He was able to make people feel not only at ease, but help guide them to make those tough choices that ultimately lead to success. He liked being there for his family and friends when they really needed him. He was a friend, mentor, counselor, father, brother & brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and most importantly, a beloved person in many people's hearts.
Mark passed on August 23rd, 2025 to be with his departed dad and brother, Keith and Terry Nickelson and many other family members that have gone before him. Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Gail Nickelson; siblings, Pam Buckalew and Jay (Amber) Nickelson; nephew, Jamie Buckalew; daughter, Kelissa Averre-Byington (Kyle); grandsons, Kovin and Killian; sister-in-law, Cheryl Nickelson and many extended family and friends.