Charles Nikolai

A longtime resident of Chilton, Charles “Chuck” Nikolai, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 20 in Denver, Colo., after a battle with cancer. Chuck was born in Marshfield, Wis., on Jan. 11, 1931. In 1954, he married the love of his life, Carol Beyer. They moved to Chilton in 1960 when he started his career as an extension agent with the University of Wisconsin. He spent the next 20 years working with 4-H and other youth in Calumet County. Chuck supported the Calumet County Ski Hill for many years as a ski instructor and member of the Ski Patrol. He also chaperoned many hundreds of youth from Calumet County at Camp Bird 4-H camp in Crivitz, Wis.

As a young man, Chuck worked as a farm hand in northern Illinois and as a lumberjack in Oregon. He served in the Korean War for over a year and then came back to Wisconsin to settle down with his new wife. Chuck and Carol left Chilton in 1979 when he was assigned as the extension agent in Iron County, Wis., and subsequently in Teller County, Colo., where he and Carol were residents of Cripple Creek for many years. After retiring as an extension agent, Chuck worked at Nerco Minerals in Cripple Creek and served as a member of the ambulance crew for many years. An avid golfer, he celebrated two holes-in-one, the latest one in November 2010 in Yuma, Ariz., where he lived since 2007.

He is survived by his six children, Terri Fox of Iron Mountain, MI, Julie Nikolai of Estes Park, CO, Sue (Markian) Nikolai-Feduschak of Eagle, CO, Greg (Mary) Nikolai of Grafton, WI, Eric (Michelle) Nikolai, of Saint Jacob, IL, and Paul (Paula) Nikolai, of Keenesburg, CO. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and was looking forward to the birth of his fourth great grandchild this spring.

He was preceded in death by his wife Carol in 2001 and by his parents, and seven of his siblings.

He will always be remembered as a loving and caring father, husband, grandfather and friend. He will be missed by his family though they take comfort that he is now reunited with his wife Carol. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either Walking Mountains Science Center (970-827-9725 x121, www.walkingmountains.org) or American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org, 800-227-2345, press 2 for donations). For both, please note that your gift is in memory of Chuck Nikolai.

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