Richard H. Nichols

He was the best of us.

Heaven gained an angel on March 3, 2024 with the passing of Richard H. Nichols, age 83 of Richland.

Richard was born May 29, 1940 in Kalamazoo to Richard and Esther Nichols. He went to Galesburg-Augusta and played football under Coach Maskill. He would go on to serve in Korea as a sharpshooter/marksman with the United States Army and nothing gave him more pride than being recognized for that.

Richard married Dianne (Woolston) on March 4, 1964; she sadly preceded him in the death on November 26, 2001. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Richard and Kim Ross of Schoolcraft, Lainie and Hans VanderGronden of Richland, Chad and Kelly Nichols of Richland and Kasi and Dennis Koole of Comstock; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Richard worked at Hoekstra Roofing and retired as a foreman. He was an avid deer and mushroom hunter and loved trekking thru the woods with his children or dad looking for morels. But his greatest joy was fishing Gull Lake on his Boston Whaler the Fish~N~Fool. He knew the lake better than almost anyone and received awards and recognition in that regard and his bluegill fish frys will be missed.

In his later years he was a baseball card fanatic, and you would find him sorting and re-sorting his cards 20 different ways that usually only made sense to him but it made him happy. He loved when family would bring him food and treats and no matter what it was it was ALWAYS the “best damn thing I ever ate”.  You always felt like the best cook in the world when you left his house. 

Richard was a friend to everyone and loved his family above all else and while I Love You was not spoken often, we all knew it thru his actions which somehow feels like more.

Until we meet again – Love you Dad.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the Yorkville Cemetery, Ross Township. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).  Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel.  Personal messages for the family and favorite memories of Richard may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.