Ah, you must think I'm a Wizard, John!. I've 6 Russell NICKELLs in my files plus another half dozen scattered here and there with Russell as a middle name. Could he be Clayton Russell NICKELL, b.1932 in CO and married to Carol Kimball CROSBY? I don't have any children so can't really make a good identification. I do have a Russel NICKELL as you've spelled it: b. in OH 1922 and d. in OH 1936 at the age of 14. Could that be your grandpa?
Wish people could be as thorough in asking as I've been in posting my years of research. Sigh...
But, I'm a NICKELL, and if you are a NICKELL, there's a pretty good chance we are related somehow.