Juanita Fern was born to Ada Bertha (Pilgrim) Meier and Fred Daines in September 1921 in Oklahoma City, OK, but was known as Juanita Meier during her lifetime. When she was just a baby in arms her family made the trip from OK to CA where her older brothers were seeking employment. The family first lived in Tulare Co. for a short time but mother Ada soon moved with Nita and her sister Opal to the Fresno area where the girls finished high school. Nita worked as a riveter during WW II and later as an early switchboard operator in a substation in Tipton, CA and later as a switchboard operator for years at the downtown Hotel Californian. She married John/Jack Olsen in Fresno, CA. He joined the military during WW II. His plane was shot down in the European Theater. Shortly after the war, one of his buddies made the trip to Fresno to meet with Nita and that was how she met Gerald/Jerry Nickelson, who became her husband. Jerry became the Superintendent of Transportation for the City of Fresno for years. Jerry passed away in April 1976. Nita continued living in Fresno until her death in Feb 2007.∼"Nita" Nickelson was born in Oklahoma, and died in Fresno. She came to the central valley as a babe in arms and settled in Fresno. As a preteen she and her sister Opal helped their mother run a gas station on Whitesbridge Road.
From 1944, until his death in 1976, Nita was married to Gerald Nickelson, manager of the Fresno bus system. They did not have any children of their own, but raised his nephew, Howard "Toby" Nickelson, known as "Mouse".
She worked as a switchboard operator at the Hotel California, Van Gas, Frontier Chevrolet, and Frank J. Sanders auto dealerships.
Nita was a friendly, outgoing woman, except when it came to games, where she was ruthless. Back in the days when it was at its height, she was an avid bowler. She learned to play cards with her family and particularly liked Bridge, both party and duplicate, and Pinochle.
In the last few years she started using the internet for email and playing online computer games. She volunteered at the Cancer Society Discovery Shop for several years. She liked browsing at garage sales and flea markets, so seeing what came into the shop was always a delight for her.
She is survived by her nephews, Ronald Madsen and Gerald Meier; nieces, Marilyn Madsen and Nancy Beinhorn; and several grand nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Memorial Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.
STEPHENS & BEAN CHAPEL 202 No. Teilman (559)268-9292
Published in the Fresno Bee from 2/13/2007 - 2/20/2007.
From 1944, until his death in 1976, Nita was married to Gerald Nickelson, manager of the Fresno bus system. They did not have any children of their own, but raised his nephew, Howard "Toby" Nickelson, known as "Mouse".
She worked as a switchboard operator at the Hotel California, Van Gas, Frontier Chevrolet, and Frank J. Sanders auto dealerships.
Nita was a friendly, outgoing woman, except when it came to games, where she was ruthless. Back in the days when it was at its height, she was an avid bowler. She learned to play cards with her family and particularly liked Bridge, both party and duplicate, and Pinochle.
In the last few years she started using the internet for email and playing online computer games. She volunteered at the Cancer Society Discovery Shop for several years. She liked browsing at garage sales and flea markets, so seeing what came into the shop was always a delight for her.
She is survived by her nephews, Ronald Madsen and Gerald Meier; nieces, Marilyn Madsen and Nancy Beinhorn; and several grand nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Memorial Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.
STEPHENS & BEAN CHAPEL 202 No. Teilman (559)268-9292
Published in the Fresno Bee from 2/13/2007 - 2/20/2007.
Juanita Fern was born to Ada Bertha (Pilgrim) Meier and Fred Daines in September 1921 in Oklahoma City, OK, but was known as Juanita Meier during her lifetime. When she was just a baby in arms her family made the trip from OK to CA where her older brothers were seeking employment. The family first lived in Tulare Co. for a short time but mother Ada soon moved with Nita and her sister Opal to the Fresno area where the girls finished high school. Nita worked as a riveter during WW II and later as an early switchboard operator in a substation in Tipton, CA and later as a switchboard operator for years at the downtown Hotel Californian. She married John/Jack Olsen in Fresno, CA. He joined the military during WW II. His plane was shot down in the European Theater. Shortly after the war, one of his buddies made the trip to Fresno to meet with Nita and that was how she met Gerald/Jerry Nickelson, who became her husband. Jerry became the Superintendent of Transportation for the City of Fresno for years. Jerry passed away in April 1976. Nita continued living in Fresno until her death in Feb 2007.∼"Nita" Nickelson was born in Oklahoma, and died in Fresno. She came to the central valley as a babe in arms and settled in Fresno. As a preteen she and her sister Opal helped their mother run a gas station on Whitesbridge Road.
From 1944, until his death in 1976, Nita was married to Gerald Nickelson, manager of the Fresno bus system. They did not have any children of their own, but raised his nephew, Howard "Toby" Nickelson, known as "Mouse".
She worked as a switchboard operator at the Hotel California, Van Gas, Frontier Chevrolet, and Frank J. Sanders auto dealerships.
Nita was a friendly, outgoing woman, except when it came to games, where she was ruthless. Back in the days when it was at its height, she was an avid bowler. She learned to play cards with her family and particularly liked Bridge, both party and duplicate, and Pinochle.
In the last few years she started using the internet for email and playing online computer games. She volunteered at the Cancer Society Discovery Shop for several years. She liked browsing at garage sales and flea markets, so seeing what came into the shop was always a delight for her.
She is survived by her nephews, Ronald Madsen and Gerald Meier; nieces, Marilyn Madsen and Nancy Beinhorn; and several grand nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Memorial Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.
STEPHENS & BEAN CHAPEL 202 No. Teilman (559)268-9292
Published in the Fresno Bee from 2/13/2007 - 2/20/2007.
From 1944, until his death in 1976, Nita was married to Gerald Nickelson, manager of the Fresno bus system. They did not have any children of their own, but raised his nephew, Howard "Toby" Nickelson, known as "Mouse".
She worked as a switchboard operator at the Hotel California, Van Gas, Frontier Chevrolet, and Frank J. Sanders auto dealerships.
Nita was a friendly, outgoing woman, except when it came to games, where she was ruthless. Back in the days when it was at its height, she was an avid bowler. She learned to play cards with her family and particularly liked Bridge, both party and duplicate, and Pinochle.
In the last few years she started using the internet for email and playing online computer games. She volunteered at the Cancer Society Discovery Shop for several years. She liked browsing at garage sales and flea markets, so seeing what came into the shop was always a delight for her.
She is survived by her nephews, Ronald Madsen and Gerald Meier; nieces, Marilyn Madsen and Nancy Beinhorn; and several grand nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Memorial Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.
STEPHENS & BEAN CHAPEL 202 No. Teilman (559)268-9292
Published in the Fresno Bee from 2/13/2007 - 2/20/2007.
Inscription
In Loving Memory
Nita Nickelson
Sept 3, 1921 - Feb 8, 2007
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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