Joan Nichols

Wasilla resident Joan Nichols, 85, passed away Jan. 22, 2016, after a brief illness.

Joan was born Nov. 12, 1930, in St. John, New Brunswick, to Robert and Dora DeBow. She married the love of her life, Frank Nichols, on June 9, 1950, and they attended Zion Bible Institute together. They lived together in Caribou, and later New Sweden, Maine, for many wonderful years.

After Frank’s passing, Joan moved to Connecticut for a few years, and then in 2003 she settled in Wasilla as one of the first residents in the Wasilla Senior Campus apartments. She attended Wasilla Bible Church with her daughter and family, was a Vacation Bible School teacher, and helped with other childcare opportunities through the church (MOPS).

Joan loved animals and always had a pet to love and keep her company. She wrote that she believed her calling in life was to be a wife and mother because she felt so fulfilled in these roles. Her family would wholeheartedly agree with these sentiments, and would add grandmother to the list!

Joan was a voracious reader who loved puzzles, crocheting, cross stitch and birds. Throughout her life, she held a strong Christian faith.

Joan is survived by four of her children, Brenda (Bergen), Rick, Becky and Doreen (Schumacher); grandchildren, Jennifer (Teuber), Allison (Bergen), and Zachary (Bergen), Isaac (Nichols), Gus and Jonas (Schumacher); and two great grandchildren, Josh and Nicholas (Teuber).