Nico Laron Wardell 1991-2012

WARDELL, BRIDGES, KHIRY, SIMPSON, SMITH, BURNETT

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 10/8/2015 at 13:26:39

Nico Laron Wardell, 20, of Dubuque, was chosen to come home to glory suddenly on Friday, June 1, 2012, during a workout while attending Northwest Community College in Southhaven, Miss.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, at Kingdom Ministries, 2501 Jackson St., with Pastor Cecilia Lott presiding. To celebrate Nico's life, friends may call after 10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in the Asbury Cemetery. Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on Dec. 29, 1991, in Chicago, son of Tanya Lee Bridges and John Henry Wardell. Nico accepted God in his life at the age of 5 and continued serving Him faithfully until his death at the age of 20.

He served the Lord under the leadership and guidance of Praying Women in Prayer and Kingdom Ministries, where Pastor Cecilia Lott was his spiritual coach and godmother. Nico loved the Lord, and most of all, he loved being a servant in his Father's house.

He attended Fulton Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School and graduated from Hempstead High School, class of 2011. He had just successfully completed his first semester of college at Northeast Iowa Community College, Peosta, Iowa.

Nico recently moved to Horn Lake, Miss., to live with his uncle, Greg, Tee-Tee Patsy and cousin Khiry, to continue his schooling and pursue his dream of becoming an athletic trainer at Northwest Community College in Southhaven.

Nico loved basketball and enjoyed playing for Hempstead High School.

He was an awesome man of God and was very active in his church. Nico was diligent to God's word, without realizing at a very early age that our Father chose him to become the angel on earth he was. He loved helping other people. Nico was very respectful and was always the peacemaker. He was very humble and caring. Nico had a very positive outlook and loved life. He loved his family and was very funny.

Surviving are his mother, Tanya Bridges, of Dubuque; his father, John (Sharon) Wardell, of Chicago; a brother, Khalil Marquise Simpson, of Dubuque; other siblings, Lil John, Angelo (Katina), Angela, Lewis, Lavon, Roland, Cameron, Jerrell, Unique, Edwin, Edrina and Ebony; his grandmother, Jeanine Maria Bridges, of Chicago; his grandfather, Lee Smith, of Dalton, Ill.; his great-grandmother, Jonnie Mae Burnett, of Chicago; five nieces and five nephews; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Annie Lee Wardell; his great-grandmothers, Beatrice Irene Bridges and Gladys M. Smith; his great-grandfather, James Martin Bridges Sr.; his grandfather, Michael Lee Westley; and other uncles and aunts and his "Mama and Papa" Emily and Robert Lott.

A Nico Laron Wardell Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com.

I would like to say a special thank-you for all your prayers and support of love in my family's time of loss. God bless you all and we love you.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, June 10, 2012