SFC Peter "Butch" Nickas, U.S. Army Ret., 68 ARDMORE, ALA. - SFC Peter "Butch" Nickas, U.S. Army Ret., 68, departed this life July 21, 2012, at Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Ala., with his wife and son by his side. He was born Nov. 14, 1943. Mr. Nickas was a graduate of Chaney High School in Youngstown. He then achieved a B.S. Degree in Technical Business Management from Athens State University. A retired Army veteran with 23 years of faithful service to his country, he was also a certified master tool and dye maker. He went on to spend 10 years with USBI/ASD working on Aerospace hardware. Pete was also employed with Larry's Pistol and Pawn for approximately six years as a fire arms specialist. Pete was preceded in death by his father, James N. Nickas; his mother, Stella Kapezanous Nickas; and his brother, Nicholas Nickas. Surviving are his loving wife of 40 years, Mary Roberta Nickas; his only son, Jeffrey Michael Nickas; his beloved granddaughter, Emily Nickas; his sister, Catherine N. Bombolis of Parma; three nephews, Nick G. Bombolis of Parma, James Nickas and Michael Nickas, both of California; one niece, Alexis Shaughnessy (Joe) of California; five great-nieces; one great-nephew; and many loved cousins and friends. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Frankie Kennedy; two sisters-in-law, Wilma Williams (Joe) of Alabama and Carmen Nickas of San Francisco; and three brothers-in-law, Ken Kennedy, Phil Kennedy, and Jerry Kennedy (Penny) of Alabama. In lieu of flowers, at the family's request, please make contributions to the Wounded Warrior's Foundation, in memory of Pete Nickas.