R.L. "Nick" Nicholson

R.L. "Nick" Nicholson, age 75, of Clarks, Nebraska, passed away June 19, 2019 at the Veterans Hospital in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, Swede Home with Pastor Kimberly Belken officiating. Military Rites by Stromsburg Legion Post #132. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Organist will be Diana Johnson. Musical selections will be "Go Rest High On That Mountain", "When I Get Where I'm Going", and "Eternal Father, Strong To Save." Pallbearers will be Terry Larson, Jesse Barnett, Mike Johnston, Bud Czarnick, Jerome Czarnick and Doug Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Salmon and John Zelasney.  Following lunch, interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in York, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.
Nick was born September 18, 1943 and raised by his parents Dwayne LeRoy and Lila Louise (Reed) Nelson in Savanna, IL. He attended school in Clinton, Iowa.
Nick joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He went to Boot Camp in San Diego California. He served in construction and maintenance duties as a Seabee. He was stationed overseas in several locations including Midway Island, Guam, Okinawa, Vietnam, Antarctica, Tiawan, Iceland and Spain, also many bases across the United States. He had a long career, serving for twenty seven years, three months and ten days, achieving the rank of U.S. Navy Seabees Chief Petty Officer, before retiring on December 31, 1987. He received many decorations and awards for his service including: National Defense; Good Conduct (6); Vietnam Service w/FMF Device and Campaign Stars (5); Navy Unit Commendation (2); Vietnam Campaign w/1960 Device; Meritorious Unit Commendation (2); Combat Action Ribbon; Antarctica Service Medal w/Bronze Device; RVN Armed Forces Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross); Navy Achievement Medal (2); Sixteen Gold Wreath Awards (for Recruiting Excellence); Overseas Service Ribbons and Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
In retirement Nick did Government contracting work and later worked in maintenance at William Wood University while receiving his bachelors degree in management.
On December 12, 2009 he was united in marriage to Carol Jean (Martin) Zelasney in Swede Home.
He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife Carol of Clarks; son Clint Nicholson of Yorktown, VA; stepsons, Michael (Kris) Zelasney of Silver Creek, Kenneth Zelasney of Silver Creek, John (Rhonda) Zelasney of Mesa, AZ; step-daughters Mary Joe (Bret) Jacob of Bennington, Emily (Bob) Dubas of Clarks; nine step-grandchildren, six step-great grandchildren; brothers Gary (Gwen) Nicholson of Centennial, CO, Jeff (Sandy) Nelson of Sabula, IA, Patti Nelson of Clinton, IA; nine nieces and nephews; other relatives and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dwayne Nelson and Lila Bock, and first wife Patricia (Moore) Nicholson.
Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg has been entrusted with arrangements.
dubasfuneralhome.com

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