NIKOLAS, Jean E. (Eikenberry) 1925-2003

NIKOLAS, MILLER, EIKENBERRY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/12/2009 at 19:28:23

OSAGE, IOWA — Jean E. Nikolas, 77, of Osage, died on Thursday (Aug. 28, 2003) at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center – Hospice Unit in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage with the Rev. Dennis Hanson and the Rev. Roy Ott officiating. Interment will be at the Osage Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage and one hour before services at the church.

Jean E. Eikenberry was born to Chester and Josie (Miller) Eikenberry on Dec. 5, 1925, at Marble Rock, Iowa. She attended grade school in a one-room country school, later graduating from Greene High School in 1943.

In 1963 she fulfilled her dream to become a nurse, after attending and completing the requirements to become a Licensed Practical Nurse at Mason City Junior College’s School of Practical Nurse Education. Jean was fourth from the top of the group of 400 when she took her exam for State Licensing in Des Moines.

She worked at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital for 24 years. Prior to that she worked as a nurse’s aide, police radio dispatcher and waitress.

Jean was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Baptist Church in Greene. She later became a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage where she was a member of the women’s WELCA.

Jean also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary. Jean was always one of the first to arrive at friends and relatives homes to help in their time of need. Over the years she helped with the Red Cross Blood Mobile and American Cancer Society.

Jean spent countless hours crocheting afghans for her grandchildren. Jean was always one to be found reading a good book at a speed that was unreal. She utilized her library card well. She also enjoyed baking and her chocolate pies were enjoyed by many.

Jean was united in marriage to Eugene B. Nikolas on December 12, 1949, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was the proud mother to six children: LaWanna, Eddie, Rhonda, Robin, Leonard, and Chester.

“Granny” will be missed by her 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Jean is survived by her husband, Eugene, of Osage; her children: LaWanna and Jim McSweeney of Menomonie, Wis., Eddie and Sheryl Nikolas of Virginia Beach, Va., Rhonda Kramer of Pipestone, Minn., Leonard and Louella Stephens of Los Alamitos, Calif. and Chester and Carolyn Stephens of San Antonio, Texas. Also surviving her is her twin brother, Dean Eikenberry of Charles City.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Chester and Josie Eikenberry; her daughter, Robin; her sister, Claudia Boyd; and brothers, Raymond Eikenberry, Byron Eikenberry, and Myron Eikenberry.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Aug. 30, 2003]