Harold Nicholson

Harold “Nick” Nicholson, our dearest husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and a loyal and steadfast friend, passed away peacefully at home on January 10, 2021. He had celebrated his 80th birthday on December 20th.
Nick was the beloved husband of 42 years to Darlene (nee Greschek) and the loving father to Jonathan (Karyn), Michael (Allyson), Christopher (Laurel), and Laura (Paul). He was a cherished grandfather to Aidan, Emma, Elizabeth, Nathan, Quinten, Preston, Trenton, and Dayton. He was a dear brother of the late James (Patricia) Nicholson, Stephen “Bill” (Jeanne) Nicholson, and Margaret (Tom) Ward. He was a fond uncle to many.

Nick was born in Chicago in 1940, moved to Wood Dale, IL at age 10, and studied at Elmhurst College and the University of Illinois. He interrupted his education to join the Air Force in 1963, serving as a Linguist and stationed at Peshawar Air Station in Pakistan where he participated in in-flight missions to intercept Russian radio transmissions. He returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Ft. George G. Meade, MD where he then translated messages sent from overseas. Leaving the Air Force in 1968, he eventually returned to his university studies and received his degree in business administration, while also taking flying lessons. This ultimately led him to a commercial pilot’s license and a 40+ year aviation career, which included starting Aviation Management with aviation buddies which included executive charters, freight forwarding, flying instruction and aircraft maintenance. After leaving Amcorp, he continued his career as a corporate pilot. He was always available for “Flight for Life” trips transporting organs and transplant teams.

Nick loved restoring vintage cars and fixing everyone else’s, the Chicago Bears, regular poker nights for 40+ years with some of his best friends, playing golf with anyone with a similar high handicap, world-wide travel, the company of good friends, and his devoted dog, Dakota. A man of deep faith, he was active in many church ministries at St. Marcelline Catholic Church in Schaumburg, and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

A wake will be held at Countryside Funeral Home, 333 S. Roselle Road, Roselle, IL., on Friday, January 15th from 3:00pm - 9:00 p.m. Due to COVID restrictions a limited number of visitors will be allowed into the funeral home at one time – please register for a visitation time click here . A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Marcelline Church, 822 S. Springinsguth, Schaumburg, IL 60193, on Saturday, January 16, at 12 p.m. Due to COVID restrictions a limited number of seats are available. Please register at the Church website (stmarcelline.com). If you are unable to attend, the service will be streamed - click on the “Livestream” icon on the St. Marcelline website.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent DePaul’s Food Bank (mail donations c/o St. Marcelline Church), the Northern Illinois Food Bank (solvehungertoday.org), or a charity of your choice. Nick and Darlene regularly volunteered at SVDP and their local food bank.

“God will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. We who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord.” Isaiah 25:8; Revelations. 21:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

God said, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” We will miss you, Nick.