Harry Joseph Nicholie
September 27th, 1941 - January 21st, 2024
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Harry's Obituary
Harry Joseph Nicholie was born on September 27, 1941 to Emma Rose and Bud Nichiolie, in Pontiac, Michigan. From an early age Harry was drawn to water, and as a young teenager, against his fathers wishes, he bought his first motor boat. He would disappear on Lake Elizabeth for entire days, accompanied only by his faithful companion, a Dobberman Pincer mutt named Sugar. Before Lewey Body Dementia began to rob him of his memories he loved to tell stories about the adventures the two of them had in that old boat.
On January 21, 2024 Harry stepped onto his boat one last time to find Sugar waiting for him and the two of them sailed off for an eternity of adventure.
Harry grew up in the Pontiac, Michigan area, but his summers were spent in Northern Michigan at The Mid-Forest Lodge, a private hunting club near Houghton Lake in Northern Michigan. In the summer of 1958 he saw a beautiful girl walk out of the lodge, and he thought he might have a chance with her because there weren’t many other boys around. The girl was Delores Shea, and he was right about his chances and they were married on February 6, 1961. Harry and Delores were blessed with four children, Nita, Lisa, David, and Eric.
After graduating from Waterford Township High School in 1959, Harry attended Hillsdale College, Alma College, and Michigan State University where he earned his CPCU and CLU degrees before joining his father in the family insurance business.
Harry was fiercely independent and liked to take calculated leaps of faith. Despite the security of the family insurance business, he decided that he wanted to make his own way in the world. He left the business and set out on a career in real estate that would be his passion for the rest of his life. Harry formed and operated several corporations that developed commercial and residential properties in the Pontiac, and greater Detroit areas. His love of water continued, and he and his growing family always lived on the water.
In 1983 Harry took another leap of faith, closed up operations in the Detroit area and moved the family to Bellaire, Michigan on the shores of Torch Lake near Traverse City. Here he began a successful real estate business specializing in waterfront properties on Torch Lake and Lake Michigan. When sons Eric and David entered Bellaire High School, Harry noticed there was a need for volunteer coaches and he coached Track and Field until both boys graduated.
By 1996, three of their children had moved to the Houston, Texas area and Harry and Delores decided to close up shop in Northern Michigan, retire, and spend winters with them. Their summers were spent in St. Joseph, Michigan with daughter Nita and her family. The annual migration from north to south and back again became a bit too much and in 2013 they became permanent year round Texans. In February of 2020 a final move brought them back to St. Joseph year round.
Harry’s driving force was to provide for his family. His children remember that his work often kept him busy; in fact one of his sons thought his dad worked for the phone company because he was always on the phone. Despite this, when he walked in the door he was Dad, ever the prankster, and his children knew he was there for them.
Nita has fond memories of riding on his back like a horse for what seemed like hours, and his waking her up on family hunting trips with a crazy Tarzan yell. She also recalled that her father would call her early every Saturday morning when she was in college, much to the chagrin of her roommates since this was the era of corded phones. Lisa cherishes memories of sailing in a race with her dad in a Hobie Cat on Lake Angelus and winning the race because she was brave and light enough to stand on the end of one of the hulls and catch the wind by holding the jib in her hand.
David’s favorite memory was from a trip that he and Harry took to Florida together. He also shared that he always admired his father for how hard he worked to provide for the family, how he never needed adulation, and how he shielded the family from any hardships he was experiencing. Eric couldn’t identify a single fond memory of his father because his father was such a constant rock of support that he felt he was blessed with a lifetime of Love. Eric gave an example of going to a track meet 12 hours away, and not even having to ask if his father would be there, he just knew with certainty that he would be next to the track cheering him on.
In January of 2021 Harry was diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia. As the disease progressed Harry’s memories faded, but the blessing was that the essential core of who he was remained. He was generous to a fault, always ready to listen, offer advice, and help. Harry led with his heart, and if he met someone in need, he tried to help. To the end he expressed his thanks and gratitude for those that were helping him. About 3 weeks before he passed, in a moment of lucidity, he told his daughter Nita that he really wanted to help people by offering free financial planning advice, and his last words to her were “Thank You”.
Through all of the losses he suffered, Harry remained, to the end, a truly great, kind, loving, and caring man. Like the rippling wake behind his boat on his eternal lake, Harry's life and fundamental goodness will continue to touch and guide all who knew and loved him.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Emma Rose Nicholie. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 63 years, Delores Nicholie and younger brothers Earl (Suzie) Nicholie, and Jimmy (Llyne Bjorkland) Nicholie. He is also survived by daughters Nita (Andy Sawyer) Nicholie of St. Joseph, MI and Lisa (Jeff) Klott of Dallas, TX, and sons David (Chrissy) Nicholie and Eric (fiance Oiza Garba) Nicholie, both of Houston, TX. Harry is also survived by 10 grandchildren Rose Sawyer, AnnieRuth Sawyer, Jayden Sawyer, Kara (Joe) Farley, Kameron (Anastasia) Klott, Jacob Nicholie, Haley Nicholie, Marissa Nicholie, Ben Nicholie and Luke Nicholie and 4 great grandchildren, Jonathan and Olivia Farley, and Scarlett and Stella Klott.
A celebration of life is tentatively planned for June in St. Joseph. In lieu of memorial donations, the family asks that you pay the highest possible tribute to him by doing as he did, by leading with your heart and having the courage to help someone in need, be they a stranger, friend, or family member.
Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starksfamilyfh.com.
On January 21, 2024 Harry stepped onto his boat one last time to find Sugar waiting for him and the two of them sailed off for an eternity of adventure.
Harry grew up in the Pontiac, Michigan area, but his summers were spent in Northern Michigan at The Mid-Forest Lodge, a private hunting club near Houghton Lake in Northern Michigan. In the summer of 1958 he saw a beautiful girl walk out of the lodge, and he thought he might have a chance with her because there weren’t many other boys around. The girl was Delores Shea, and he was right about his chances and they were married on February 6, 1961. Harry and Delores were blessed with four children, Nita, Lisa, David, and Eric.
After graduating from Waterford Township High School in 1959, Harry attended Hillsdale College, Alma College, and Michigan State University where he earned his CPCU and CLU degrees before joining his father in the family insurance business.
Harry was fiercely independent and liked to take calculated leaps of faith. Despite the security of the family insurance business, he decided that he wanted to make his own way in the world. He left the business and set out on a career in real estate that would be his passion for the rest of his life. Harry formed and operated several corporations that developed commercial and residential properties in the Pontiac, and greater Detroit areas. His love of water continued, and he and his growing family always lived on the water.
In 1983 Harry took another leap of faith, closed up operations in the Detroit area and moved the family to Bellaire, Michigan on the shores of Torch Lake near Traverse City. Here he began a successful real estate business specializing in waterfront properties on Torch Lake and Lake Michigan. When sons Eric and David entered Bellaire High School, Harry noticed there was a need for volunteer coaches and he coached Track and Field until both boys graduated.
By 1996, three of their children had moved to the Houston, Texas area and Harry and Delores decided to close up shop in Northern Michigan, retire, and spend winters with them. Their summers were spent in St. Joseph, Michigan with daughter Nita and her family. The annual migration from north to south and back again became a bit too much and in 2013 they became permanent year round Texans. In February of 2020 a final move brought them back to St. Joseph year round.
Harry’s driving force was to provide for his family. His children remember that his work often kept him busy; in fact one of his sons thought his dad worked for the phone company because he was always on the phone. Despite this, when he walked in the door he was Dad, ever the prankster, and his children knew he was there for them.
Nita has fond memories of riding on his back like a horse for what seemed like hours, and his waking her up on family hunting trips with a crazy Tarzan yell. She also recalled that her father would call her early every Saturday morning when she was in college, much to the chagrin of her roommates since this was the era of corded phones. Lisa cherishes memories of sailing in a race with her dad in a Hobie Cat on Lake Angelus and winning the race because she was brave and light enough to stand on the end of one of the hulls and catch the wind by holding the jib in her hand.
David’s favorite memory was from a trip that he and Harry took to Florida together. He also shared that he always admired his father for how hard he worked to provide for the family, how he never needed adulation, and how he shielded the family from any hardships he was experiencing. Eric couldn’t identify a single fond memory of his father because his father was such a constant rock of support that he felt he was blessed with a lifetime of Love. Eric gave an example of going to a track meet 12 hours away, and not even having to ask if his father would be there, he just knew with certainty that he would be next to the track cheering him on.
In January of 2021 Harry was diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia. As the disease progressed Harry’s memories faded, but the blessing was that the essential core of who he was remained. He was generous to a fault, always ready to listen, offer advice, and help. Harry led with his heart, and if he met someone in need, he tried to help. To the end he expressed his thanks and gratitude for those that were helping him. About 3 weeks before he passed, in a moment of lucidity, he told his daughter Nita that he really wanted to help people by offering free financial planning advice, and his last words to her were “Thank You”.
Through all of the losses he suffered, Harry remained, to the end, a truly great, kind, loving, and caring man. Like the rippling wake behind his boat on his eternal lake, Harry's life and fundamental goodness will continue to touch and guide all who knew and loved him.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Emma Rose Nicholie. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 63 years, Delores Nicholie and younger brothers Earl (Suzie) Nicholie, and Jimmy (Llyne Bjorkland) Nicholie. He is also survived by daughters Nita (Andy Sawyer) Nicholie of St. Joseph, MI and Lisa (Jeff) Klott of Dallas, TX, and sons David (Chrissy) Nicholie and Eric (fiance Oiza Garba) Nicholie, both of Houston, TX. Harry is also survived by 10 grandchildren Rose Sawyer, AnnieRuth Sawyer, Jayden Sawyer, Kara (Joe) Farley, Kameron (Anastasia) Klott, Jacob Nicholie, Haley Nicholie, Marissa Nicholie, Ben Nicholie and Luke Nicholie and 4 great grandchildren, Jonathan and Olivia Farley, and Scarlett and Stella Klott.
A celebration of life is tentatively planned for June in St. Joseph. In lieu of memorial donations, the family asks that you pay the highest possible tribute to him by doing as he did, by leading with your heart and having the courage to help someone in need, be they a stranger, friend, or family member.
Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starksfamilyfh.com.
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