Joseph Thomas Nickless
September 5, 1914 - March 1, 2010

With an undeniable zest for life, Joe Nickless was an outgoing fellow and a friend to many. Hardworking, Joe spent a lifetime enjoying his work in the company of great friends. Although head strong and opinionated about the issues for which he was passionate, Joe was often the life of a party whom others enjoyed. Throughout his life, Joe savored much. He laughed often, and lived fully. He will be dearly remembered and deeply missed.

The year 1914 brought much change as the American culture was quickly evolving, and the beginning of World War I loomed overseas. Henry Ford astounded the business world when he began paying his workers $5 a day, and Hollywood was officially deemed the worlds film center. In the quiet lakeshore town of Muskegon, Michigan, the headlines of the day didnt compare to the joy that Walter and Leticia (Lynch) Nickless experienced when on September 5, 1914 they welcomed the birth of Joseph Thomas into their loving arms.

The youngest of three children, Joe grew up in Muskegon with his older brother, Donald and his sister, Helen. His father operated Nickless Coal Company while his mother was a homemaker and looked after the children. Joe enjoyed a typical childhood as a young boy and as a teen helped his father in the family coal business. Even though Joe always wore white clothing while delivering coal to their customers, Joe somehow managed to remain clean and coal free. Devout lifetime members of St. Marys Catholic Church, Joe attended and graduated from St. Marys High School where he played football and baseball for the school teams.

Following high school Joe took on several jobs and attempted to find his niche. He drove an ambulance and worked part-time for Balbernie-Apostle Funeral Home with two of his longtime buddies, Tony Lakos and Louis Rubinsky. In time he began working at the Elks Club downtown tending bar which began many years of his eventual work in the food and beverage business.

In time Joe married, and although his marriage to Vernice Andrews was brief, he was blessed during this time when his beautiful daughter Sandra was born in 1938. Throughout the years Joe worked for various establishments and consequently became the food and beverage manager for the Elks Club as well as popular local dining houses such as Lakos Restaurant and Tonys Restaurant. Joe eventually went on to retire in the mid 80s from the Century Club.

Joes heart once again opened to the prospect of love when he met and married Elizabeth Fallon. A very social couple, the two shared great times out on the town and often with Elizabeths brother, Tom and his wife, Barbara. It was a hard time for all when Joes daughter Sandra died in 1961shortly after giving birth to her youngest daughter, Michele. Although this time in Joes life was difficult, he and Elizabeth were blessed when they adopted Sandras baby girl Michele and raised her as their own. Some years later in the mid 70s Joes marriage to Elizabeth would also come to an end, but the blessing of having adopted Michele during their union remained close to his heart.

Over the years Joe provided a good life for his family working long and hard hours at the restaurants and clubs. Fun loving, it was a joy to work with him and be in his company. His personable nature allowed him to make many friends throughout the years. Through his work, Joe was known well in the community and was well liked. He exuberated a love for life that flowed from his personality. He was truly a natural when it came to being around people and working in the public eye.

Joe was getting along in life and continued to enjoy his work and social activities when he started dating Betty Walker Reilly. Betty worked in the office at Tonys Restaurant, and Joe had known her for many years. They shared much in common and thoroughly enjoyed one anothers company. After dating for a time, Joe and Betty were married on January 17, 1986. They made Bettys house on Airport Road in Norton Shores their home together where they enjoyed family gatherings and the company of friends. Joe and Betty were quite a social pair, and regularly made their rounds visiting friends at the local halls and clubs they belonged to like Tatra Hall, The Vikings, The Moose Lodge and the American Legion in Grand Haven, just to name a few.

It was during this time in the mid 80s that Joe officially retired which afforded them the opportunity to travel more often. They shared a love for travel and enjoyed several trips to Las Vegas with good friends Elle and Roger Seng. In time they began wintering in the warmer climate of Florida where they established many friendships. Joe was a go-getter and in his retirement he became quite involved in local politics. He was known for his opinionated views and got a charge out of pushing buttons in order to get people interested and talking about issues at hand.

Even though Joe enjoyed retirement, he wasnt quite ready to give up work all together. Work was in his blood and he kept busy working part-time for Smittys Beverage Company. Whenever he had the opportunity, Joe loved spending time with his daughter Michele and her family. He often helped out in her garden and tended to the lawn which he truly enjoyed. Joe remained a longtime member of St. Marys Catholic Church and was active in the Old Newsboys. A big fan of the University of Michigan sports, Joe was always at the ready for a good U of M game. An avid golfer, he enjoyed many good games of golf throughout the years with old and new friends.

Joe remained healthy well into his 90s, but the years eventually began to take their toll on him. It was a difficult transition for him when he had to give up driving, but he continued living at home where Betty provided him with wonderful, loving care. When his health took a turn a few months ago, Joe was placed in the care at the VNS Hospice House. He surprisingly recovered and became well enough to move to an assisted living center where he lived out his final days. Sadly, at the age of 95, Joseph Nickless died on Monday, March 1, 2010. He will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed.

Joe is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Michele (Mark) Anderson of Norton Shores; grandson, Jim Larson of Lansing; other grandchildren, John (Tonia) Miller of TX, James (Dheilia) Koehler of OH, Joni (Neil) Hawryliw of Muskegon; great grandchildren, Jeanette, Jonathon, Joseph, Jacee, Nigel; great great grandchild, Preston; step children, Kathy (Leos) Kral of GA, Timothy Reilly of Roscommon. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra; brothers, Donald; sister, Helen.

SERVICE: Friday, March 5, 2010, 3:00 PM at the Clock Chapel-Muskegon with Fr. Matt Barnum officiating. VISITATION: Thursday, 6-8 PM and Friday, one hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home-Muskegon. MEMORIAL: St. Mary's Catholic Church or Mercy VNS Hospice. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a favorite memory of Joe, upload a photo or to sign his online guest book.

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