Leonard "Sonny" Nikkel, 79, of Amarillo, Texas formerly of Hereford, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Amarillo, Texas. Graveside service will be on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 10:00 AM at West Park Cemetery with Rev.'s Tom Fuller and Rusty Dickerson officiating. Celebration of Life Memorial Service will follow immediately at 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church of Hereford, Texas. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford, Texas. Viewing will be on Friday, May 13, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Sonny was born May 11, 1943, in Guymon, Oklahoma, to Abe Elroy and Alma Lois (Scott) Nikkel. Sonny graduated from Texline High School in 1961; he met and married the love of his life Jacklyn Harwell on January 20, 1964, in Dalhart, Texas. Sonny has been a resident of Hereford since 1983. He owned and operated J&S Hydraulic from 1992-2016, retiring and handing the business over to his son, Darren and moving to Amarillo in 2017. Sonny was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hereford, Texas and always supported every pastor at his church. Sonny enjoyed golfing, fishing, and was an avid Texas Ranger Baseball fan. His greatest joy and past time were his family, his grandchildren and Jake, his beloved dog. Jake was famous and everyone in Hereford loved him. When you saw Sonny riding around town, you would see Jake sitting upfront right next to him, with Jacklyn in the backseat. Sonny loved his sons' cooking, especially his Bar B-Que. Sonny was very caring and a little ornery, and was no hypocrite, he either loved you, and if he didn't you knew it, you always knew exactly where you stood with Sonny.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife Jacklyn Nikkel of Amarillo, Texas, his son Darren Nikkel and his wife Cindy of Hereford, Texas and a daughter-in-law Tamara Ritchey of Amarillo, Texas; seven grandchildren Bailey Ruckman and her husband Clint of Hereford, Texas, Ryan Nikkel and his wife Josalynn of Amarillo, Texas, Katie  Nikkel of Amarillo, Texas, Noah Nikkel and Kinze Nikkel both of Lubbock, Texas, Evan Prater of Canadian, Texas and Bailey Hudson and her husband Brayden of Amarillo, Texas; six great grandchildren Braxton, Lennon and Gavin Ruckman, Aliyah Nikkel, Jaxon Nikkel and Natalie; his sister Linda Williams and her husband Kenneth of Corsicana, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sonny is preceded in death by his parents, his son Leonard E. Nikkel, Jr. and his beloved dog and best friend Jake.

You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com