WALTER NICHOLSON
WALTER NICHOLSON
WALTER NICHOLSON
1924-2015
Celebration of Life Funeral Services for Walter Nicholson, age 91 of Bedford, Iowa, formerly of the Hopkins, Missouri area who passed away Thursday, August 6, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska will be held Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hopkins Christian Church. Visitation will be held Monday, August 10, 2015 from 3 to 7 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Interment with military rites will be held at the Hopkins Cemetery in Hopkins, Missouri. Memorials may be directed to the Hopkins Christian Church. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Walter Bayard Nicholson was born June 6, 1924, on a farm approximately six miles east of Burlington Junction, Nodaway County, Missouri, the son of Emery Bliss Nicholson and Lela (Wray) Nicholson. Walter grew up on the family farm he was born on. He attended school through the eighth grade at the Guthrie School, located approximately 1.5 miles from his home. He attended and graduated from Maryville High School and Horace Mann School. After high school, Walter attended Northwest Missouri State University briefly.
Walter answered the call to serve his country, entering the United States Army during World War II. He trained at Camp Fannon in Texas and at the Infantry School located at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was trained in infantry communications as an infantry replacement. Walter was involved in combat with the 36th Infantry Division in Italy, France and Germany, where he obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was honorably discharged in March of 1946.
On January 8, 1947, Walter was united in marriage to Leona Mae Koger. To this union, three sons were born, Eric, Norman and Lynn Nicholson. Walter was a faithful and caring husband to Leona through her many years of ill health. Leona passed away on January 16, 2000, at the Bedford Nursing & Rehab Center where she had resided for eight years.
During Walter’s working career he farmed the family farm located southwest of Hopkins, Missouri where he had both row crop and livestock. Walter also was a carpenter by trade, building and remodeling houses and many other structures throughout his career. He and his friend, Homer Ulmer, were partners in the carpentry business along with Galen Ulmer.
On June 6, 2000, he was united in marriage to Doris Marie Northover, who had lost her husband. For each of them, it was a joyful end to years of loneliness and sadness. Each felt very blessed and continued to thank God for giving them each other at a later age in life.
Walter became a member of the Hopkins Christian Church on May 14, 1961 where he continued to attend faithfully and serve the Lord as long as his health allowed.
Left to cherish the memories of a wonderful father, grandfather and friend are his three sons, Eric Nicholson of Eugene, Oregon; Norman Nicholson and wife Lois of Harbine, Nebraska; and Lynn Nicholson and wife Licha of Marietta, Georgia; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Jay Shipley of Grant City, Missouri; along with many other relatives and friends.
Preceding Walter in death are his parents, Emery and Lela Nicholson; his first wife Leona Nicholson; his second wife, Doris Nicholson in June of 2011; two sisters, Eva Walker and Ilene Shipley.
Walter will be missed by his loving family and friends.
He will be forever in their hearts.
May God grant comfort and peace to those who mourn his passing.
