Walter liked to be called "Nick" which is a short form of his last name.

Especially after his father, the original Nick Nichols passed away.

Nick was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up around the area of Battle Creek and Grosse Ile.

He was a true, real product of the American Midwest. A man of honesty and integrity.

He lived and worked as a businessman in Battle Creek, Michigan and in Chicago, Illinois.

Early on, he was in the car business. Then went into import/export.

He also ventured into the natural gas leasing business, but found it to be an extremely

cutthroat business, full of shady characters with shadier lawyers, and he had no stomach for it.

Nick was a man who loved life and loved people. He lived a full and joyful life.

In younger years, he loved boating on the lakes, tramping in the snow, hunting.

When he moved to California, he marveled that every day, the skies were so clear, so cloudless,

so blue, and the sun was so warm. These simple things were a great delight to him.

He was a loving husband. A loving father, grandfather and great grandfather.

He was also an excellent uncle to his wife's nieces and nephews. They all love him. This was

more so when he visited his wife's hometown in the Philippines, Baguio City where he met

many many aunts, uncles and cousins eager to show him Filipino family love and affection.

He was known to friends as a funny man. He was called "a jokester". He was really funny.

But his sense of humor was never hurtful or destructive.

Nick loved babies and children, puppies and dogs of all kinds, but especially BLACK LABS.

He tolerated CATS but barely, as he was allergic to them, he says.

He inherited a love for flowers from his mother. His favorite ones were crocuses, violets, petunias.

He loved reading a good mystery book; loved traditional (New Orleans/Dixieland) jazz music,

loved all sorts of cars, old and new.

And he loved God .

After becoming very good friends with his Chicago parish priest, he went through RCIA age 80

and was baptized, confirmed and had First Holy Communion at age 81. In his last 5 years of life,

he was home bound and could not attend mass, but would always tell his wife to "say hello to our

friends in church", each time she took her leave to go to mass.

He received the last rites before he died, so we know he is up there right now, smiling at us. For this is

what Jesus promised for those who love Him.

So, so long Nick, we shall see you again in a little while.