Charles "Chuck" Nicklas

Munising

Charles “Chuck” Nicklas, age 85, of Munising, died early Tuesday morning, June 19, 2018 at Munising Memorial Hospital.  He was born on September 10, 1932 in Norwalk, Ohio to Floyd and Frances (Gross) Nicklas.  Chuck graduated from Monroeville High School.  He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1953. Chuck then earned his Bachelor of Science of Commerce Degree from Ohio University and continued his education with an M.B.A. from Xavier University.  Chuck taught at Dayton Community College, the University of Richmond, and the University of Oklahoma.  He also spent eleven years as an industrial engineer.  Chuck was a very active member with the Lions Club and served as Past District Governor.  He also was the Assistant Director of Economic Development in Vermont, Marketing Manager Commonwealth of Virginia, and established economic development programs in Kentucky, Kansas, Colorado, and Michigan.  In Munising, Chuck was a member and an elder at the First Presbyterian Church and a member of the American Legion Post 131.  In his earlier years, Chuck enjoyed woodworking creating wooden toys he sold out of his garage, and started Green Mountain Furniture in Vermont.

Chuck is survived by his wife Janice (Gelhaar) Nicklas of Munising; his five children: Jeffrey and Brenda Nicklas of Glen Allen, VA; Tracy and James Spratt of Chesterfield, MI; Scott and Lori Nicklas of Baraga, MI; Elizabeth and Jeffrey Wuorinen of Marquette, MI; and Sean and Lori Nicklas of Kinross, MI. He will also be lovingly remembered by his eleven grandchildren: Sara, Jimmy, Stefan (Ally), Jeremy (Mindy), Laura (Tim), Kirsten (Johnny), Hannah (Braden), Sienna, Ryan, Erin, and Guinnevere and his six great-grandchildren: Alyauna, Brooklyn, Gracelyn, Kennady, Logan and Kohen; sister: Martha Blake of Finley, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Frances, and great-grandson Toby Scott.

A memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Jim Rodgers on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Munising.  Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran's Honor Guard.

Memorials in Chuck’s name may be made to the Munising Lions Club (P.O. Box 152 Wetmore, MI 49895 or Presbytery Point Camp (HC1 Box 2030, Michigamme, MI  49861.)