George K. Nichols' Obituary
George King Nichols, 88, of Decatur, passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2013 from an aortic aneurism at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
He was born September 4, 1925 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the son of Basil Henry Nichols and Hazel May King. George studied at Penn State University with a two-year absence for Midshipmen School and Naval service aboard the USS Wisconsin. He worked as a product and marketing manager for A.E. Staley Mfg. Co. for over 20 years, retiring in 1985.
George married Helen Riley on September 4, 1960, in Tupper Lake, NY. In 1962 they moved to Decatur, Illinois. Here they were active in the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club, racing their Snipe sailboat. After retirement, he and his wife traveled throughout the United States and Canada in their travel trailer for ten years. George’s lifelong passions included landscape photography, genealogy, woodworking, bird watching and traveling.
His sons, Mark Hanford Nichols and his wife, Sibylle Kuder; Christopher James Nichols and his wife, Lisa Nichols; as well as his grandchildren A.J., Kiel, Mellisa, Riley, Alyx, and great-granddaughter Sydney; along with his special friend, Roberta Stahlheber, survive him.
His parents, wife, and daughter, Amy Susan Nichols, preceded him in death.
Memorial services celebrating his life will be 2 pm Saturday, October 5, 2013, in the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home concluding with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. Private family burial will take place. Memorials are suggested to Gallery 510, 160 East Main Street, Decatur, IL 62523 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
The family of George K. Nichols is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62526. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.moranandgoebel.com.
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