Karl Arthur Nickel

July 13, 1942 – September 28, 2026

Karl Arthur Nickel, 84, of Lake Forest, California, passed away on September 28, 2026. He was born on July 13, 1942, in Inglewood, California.

Karl spent his entire career with Pacific Bell, staying with the company through its many mergers and name changes until his retirement. He took great pride in his work, which included installing and maintaining business phone systems and the communications systems in aircraft control towers. Knowing that pilots and businesses depended on what he built was a source of quiet satisfaction for him.

Karl lived his life on his own terms and was proud of it. He believed in paying his own way, and he did: he never carried a car payment or a credit card balance, paid off his home, and retired early to enjoy the freedom he had worked for. That steady, practical approach was one of the many lessons he passed on to his family.

His children's fondest memories include the summers spent camping, sailing, and fishing up to five weeks every year, which gave them adventures, time together, and stories they still tell. Karl's curious, hands-on mind didn't stop at work. At home he tinkered with cars, computers and networking, and electrical projects. He enjoyed figuring out how things worked and was always ready to fix whatever needed fixing.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy; his children Bridget, Brenda, Sheryl, Ken, and Bill; and his grandchildren Raymond, Mackenzie, Madison, Tanner, and Blaise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Nellie, and his brother, Frank.

Services will be announced at a later date.