Leo Nichols

Leo I. Nichols Tunnel Hill- Leo I. Nichols, 89, of Tunnel Hill passed away Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, IL. The families’ wishes were for Leo to be cremated. Memorial services will be held November 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Bethlehem Gospel Mission Church in Tunnel Hill with Pastor Howard Strunk officiating. Memorials may be made to the Vienna Carnegie Library and to Bethlehem Gospel Mission Church; envelopes will be available at the church or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL, 62959. Leo was born June 16, 1921 in Benton, Illinois to Ivan Leo & Ferdina (Hausey) Nichols. He married NonaEl June Bronk on September 8, 1946 in Elgin, IL. She preceded him on October 8, 2008. Survivors include his children, Mike Nichols & Linda Snyder of Milton, Wisconsin, Cindi & Lee Swinehart of Tunnel Hill, Patti & Ed Dudock of Friendsville, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Christopher & Shara Dudock, Paul Dudock & Nicholas Dudock; great-granddaughter Jenna Rose Dudock. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brother, Kenneth Nichols and sister, Wanda Faye Barnwell. Leo served as a Marine during World War Two specializing as an aircraft mechanic. After being Honorably Discharged in 1945, he regained his employment with Illinois Tool Works, Shakeproof division in Elgin, IL, where he worked for the next 28 years. Leo and his wife, NonaEl, owned and operated a dog boarding kennel and animal feed & supply store for years in Northern, IL, before moving to Boulder City, NV in 1984. Leo and NonaEl moved to Tunnel Hill in 2000 from Boulder City; where he spent his time as an avid sportsman, who loved to hunt, fish, trap shoot and listen to the sound of a “good Beagle.” He is a lifetime member of American Legion Post 630 in Elburn, IL, and Fox Valley Saddle Association in Elgin, IL. He is a member of the Elgin Moose Lodge and a former member of the St. Charles Sportsman Club.