Christopher Nickel
Agency patch
Park Ranger

Christopher Nickel

Illness
End of Watch January 29, 2011
Age 54
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Park Ranger Chris Nickel passed away while patrolling the Square Tower Ruin Trail at Hovenweep National Monument in San Juan County, Utah.

A hiker discovered Ranger Nickel collapsed on the trail and immediately rushed to the visitor center to request assistance. Paramedics from Colorado, Utah and a medical helicopter from New Mexico responded but Ranger Nickel was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ranger Nickel had served with the National Park Service for 16 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Park Ranger Nickel gave the United States Department of the Interior 16 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Nickel.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdinpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 29, 2011
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

Christopher is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2011, 23 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 15th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Christopher was 54. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Christopher had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Saturdays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service has 40 officers remembered here, Christopher among them.

VI

Where

Park Ranger Christopher Nickel

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service · End of Watch January 29, 2011

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-W

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