Ronnie Nichols 1936 - 2018

NICHOLS, FOWLER, SMITH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/12/2018 at 21:36:02

Sioux City Journal
27 October 2018

Sioux City

Ronnie Nichols, 82, of Sioux City, died at home Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, following a 20-year battle with prostate cancer.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the Rev. R. Paul Johnston officiating. Private family burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, October 28, with a prayer service and Masonic service at 7 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mr. Nichols was born in Hudson, S.D., on April 29, 1936, to Olin and Sylvia (Fowler) Nichols. He moved to Sioux City in 1939. He was a 1954 graduate of Central High School.

He married Jeanie Smith on Oct. 21, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Mr. Nichols was a 62-year member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 18/33. He retired in 1998 from Wren Plumbing. Ronnie also worked many years for Kvidera Plumbing.

Ronnie served with the U.S. Army National Guard, enlisting in 1955 and received an honorable discharge. He was a sergeant in Headquarters Company, 133rd Infantry.

Ronnie was a member of the Strollers Car Club in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Sunday was spent drag racing on land behind the Sioux City Gateway Airport.

Ronnie was one of the original founders of Siouxland Youth Athletics along with Dick Matousek, Tom Masteller, and Kip Comer. In 1978, he and Dick organized and coached the neighborhood girl's Jack Pinney softball team. Never an all-star team, but always winners. They did this until 1986. In 1989, Ronnie returned to coaching with Tom Kvidera for C.W. Suter. He enjoyed all these years of building and maintaining the ball fields, coaching and being on the park board. SYA is something that still continues today. He was also involved in the building of the beautiful softball field at WHS in the 1980s.

He was a 50-year member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a 56 year member of North Riverside Lodge 662. He was also a former member of Silver Azure Order of the Eastern Star. He belonged to Sun Valley and Hidden Acres Golf Courses.

Ronnie was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa. Ronnie and Jeanie always enjoyed supporting and attending their grandchildren's school and sporting events. Family was very important to Ronnie. He was always very proud of his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanie Nichols; three daughters, Lori and Klay Evers, and Penni and Kory Kistner, both of Sioux City, and Roni Sue and Scott Comstock of South Sioux City; eight grandchildren, Katie Kistner (Nick Calvillo), Kandie (Kistner) and Jacob Terry, Kaylee (Evers) and Nathanial Humberson, Kory (Lexi) Kistner, Brennan Comstock (Paige Hansen), Jared Evers (Emily Visser), Jordan Comstock (Grace Whitlaw), and Bricelyn Comstock; three great-grandsons, Scout Owen, Connor Terry, and Kolby Kistner; great-granddaughter, Evelyn Terry; sister-in-law and husband, Joyce and Bob Van Waart of Sioux City; and two nephews, Rick Nichols of Boise, Idaho, and Mike Nichols of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Olin and Sylvia Nichols; brother, Eilert Nichols; grandparents; and in-laws, Ambrose "Bud" and Orpha Smith.

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church in Ronnie's memory.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice, nurse, Sherri, and social worker, Kristy. They were so much help for Ronnie and our family.