01/08/2026
🌟Resident Spotlight: Gary R. Nickelson🌟
Gary Nickelson’s life story is one shaped by movement, creativity, service, and deep spiritual reflection.
Gary was born in 1948 in Phillipsburg, Montana. His early years included time in Spokane, Washington, before his family—his mom, dad, and two brothers—settled in Carlsbad, New Mexico when Gary was just nine years old. His father, a geologist, was drawn to New Mexico for mining work, and Carlsbad became the place Gary would truly grow up. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1966, carrying with him a curiosity about the world and a love for learning.
After high school, Gary attended the University of New Mexico, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1970. Art and creativity were never just hobbies for Gary—they were part of who he was. Shortly after college, he married his high school sweetheart, and the two shared eight years of marriage.
Gary’s journey eventually took him to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lived for 20 years in Berkeley. Those years were rich with experience and meaning. He worked in construction and property management, but also devoted his time to helping others, serving as a counselor at a nonprofit for individuals with schizophrenia and mentally disturbed adolescents. While in California, Gary experienced both the breathtaking beauty of nature—the ocean, mountains, and towering redwoods—and the sobering realities of history, including the Oakland Fire and the Loma Prieta Earthquake. It was also a time of cultural transformation, shaped by the Vietnam War and social change, which deeply influenced his worldview.
In 1991, Gary returned to Carlsbad to be closer to his aging parents and help care for them. His mother passed away in 2002, followed by his father in 2006—losses that left a lasting imprint on his heart. Through it all, Gary leaned into his passion for photography and art, finding meaning and expression through creativity.
Years of physically demanding construction work took a toll on Gary’s body. In 2009, at the age of 61, he became totally disabled due to severe back strain and later developed transverse myelitis. For 12 years, Gary courageously cared for himself at home until his health needs grew beyond what he could manage alone. When complications and bed wounds required medical attention, Gary came to Lakeview.
Today, Gary says he truly enjoys being at Lakeview, especially now that he has a more private room. He speaks with heartfelt gratitude about the nurses and staff who care for him, describing them as kind, sweet, and attentive. He feels heard, supported, and well taken care of—help arrives quickly, and compassion is never in short supply.
Spiritually, Gary describes his time at Lakeview as deeply meaningful. Once a practicing Buddhist, he is now studying Christianity and strengthening his faith through prayer and Bible study with a close friend over the phone. Gary believes in God and in life after death, sharing that he sees hardships as opportunities to draw closer to God. “We are spiritual beings in human bodies,” he says, and he believes his experience at Lakeview has been part of his spiritual healing journey. He lovingly refers to Lakeview as “a jewel,” a place filled with people from all over the world—many of whom he believes are healers walking alongside him in his journey here on Earth.
When asked what advice he would give to younger generations, Gary speaks from a place of wisdom and compassion:
Be true to yourself. Find a purpose that fits who you are. Work to heal your relationship with your parents—don’t carry the hurt. Forgiveness is essential.
Gary’s story is one of resilience, reflection, faith, and grace. We are honored to have him as part of the Lakeview family and grateful for the depth, perspective, and spiritual light he brings to our community. 💙
