In Memory Of
Judith Ann Nichols
1943
2023
Judith Ann Nichols
April 22, 1943 — April 19, 2023
Judith Ann (Davis, Matzke) Nichols entered heaven and the arms of the Savior on April 19, 2023, in Topeka, Kansas.
Judy was born in Bridgeport, Nebraska on April 22, 1943, to Iola and Ward Davis. She was the middle child of five siblings, having two older brothers (Ted and Ron) and two younger sisters (Deanna and Patt).
Judy graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1961 and The Lincoln School of Commerce in 1962.
She married Robert Keith Matzke, Jr. on July 15, 1962; they were divorced in 1968. They had two daughters, Rochelle Kristine and Robin Kolette.
Judy worked for the Bridgeport Equipment Company for over a decade, where she put her secretarial skills to use, and where her daughters loved visiting whenever their mother allowed it. Secretly, Rochelle and Robin were hoping for chocolates from August Goltl, who always brought them a boxful on Valentine's Day.
Judy was active in the Assembly of God church in Bridgeport, something she shared with Robert (Bob) Nichols. They were married on January 12, 1978. Judy gained five stepchildren (Janet, Karen, Glenda, June, and Dale) and two step grandchildren (Josh and Megan). Other Nichols grandkids to follow were Eric, Wesley, Chelsey, and Tyler, Miranda, and Brandon.
In 1987 Bob and Judy moved to Southern California, returning to their Nebraskan roots in the early 90's. More grandchildren were added with Rochelle's children, Lindsey, Katie, and David, and Robin's son, Davis.
A natural teacher, Judy spent much of her life teaching children. A favorite memory of her daughters is when she taught Children's Church with Barbara Clayton at Bridgeport Assembly of God in the 70's.
Judy was not constrained to teaching within church walls. During the years she and Bob lived in California, she and a friend hosted the Sunshine Club, an in-home children's Bible club for children in their neighborhood. Another highlight of her years in California was teaching at a children's rehab hospital. She was a lay chaplain there for 4 years. The children called her Teacher Judy. She enjoyed writing her own scripts for flannelgraph stories and puppet shows: one of which she used to write her book, "Or-Ange Juice Fight", becoming a published author in 2012 at the age of 68.
Following the death of Bob Nichols, her husband of 24 years, Judy moved to Topeka, Kansas, where she lived out the rest of her life.
She added a new chapter in her teaching experience at Town and Country Christian Church in Topeka when she taught the Joy class, the first Sunday School class of adults she ever taught.
She was a prayer warrior who faithfully loved and prayed for her whole family. She lived to see Scarlett Jane Rehfeldt, her first great grandchild.
She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands: Rochelle and Michael Giordano of Chino Hills, California, and Robin and David Kiesling of Topeka, Kansas; four grandchildren: Lindsey Rehfeldt and her husband, Nate, Katie Prokop and her husband, Jayden, David Giordano, and Davis Kiesling: one great granddaughter, Scarlett Jane Rehfeldt: four step children, Janet Billingsley, Karen Turner and her husband Gerald, June Abbott, and Robert Dale Nichols, Jr. and his wife Tammi; eight step-grandchildren, Joshua Palser and his wife Rachel, Megan Palser, Eric Turner, Wesley Turner and Chelsea Petersen and her husband, Stephen; Tyler Nichols and his wife Chelsey, Miranda Nichols, and Brandon Nichols and his wife Caitlin; and 4 step-great grandchildren, Austin Palser, Lucas Palser, Bethany Nichols, and Beckett Nichols. She is also survived by her brothers and their wives, Terence and Karen Davis, and Ronald and Judy Davis, her sister Deanna Barber and her brother-in-law Robert Bolduc.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Nichols, her stepdaughter Glenda Coons, her nephew Dean Davis, and her sister Patricia Bolduc.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Dove Cremations and Funerals, Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd, Topeka, Kansas.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 4, 2023 at the funeral home.
Judy's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.
To leave a special message for Judy's family, please visit the guestbook below.
Judy was born in Bridgeport, Nebraska on April 22, 1943, to Iola and Ward Davis. She was the middle child of five siblings, having two older brothers (Ted and Ron) and two younger sisters (Deanna and Patt).
Judy graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1961 and The Lincoln School of Commerce in 1962.
She married Robert Keith Matzke, Jr. on July 15, 1962; they were divorced in 1968. They had two daughters, Rochelle Kristine and Robin Kolette.
Judy worked for the Bridgeport Equipment Company for over a decade, where she put her secretarial skills to use, and where her daughters loved visiting whenever their mother allowed it. Secretly, Rochelle and Robin were hoping for chocolates from August Goltl, who always brought them a boxful on Valentine's Day.
Judy was active in the Assembly of God church in Bridgeport, something she shared with Robert (Bob) Nichols. They were married on January 12, 1978. Judy gained five stepchildren (Janet, Karen, Glenda, June, and Dale) and two step grandchildren (Josh and Megan). Other Nichols grandkids to follow were Eric, Wesley, Chelsey, and Tyler, Miranda, and Brandon.
In 1987 Bob and Judy moved to Southern California, returning to their Nebraskan roots in the early 90's. More grandchildren were added with Rochelle's children, Lindsey, Katie, and David, and Robin's son, Davis.
A natural teacher, Judy spent much of her life teaching children. A favorite memory of her daughters is when she taught Children's Church with Barbara Clayton at Bridgeport Assembly of God in the 70's.
Judy was not constrained to teaching within church walls. During the years she and Bob lived in California, she and a friend hosted the Sunshine Club, an in-home children's Bible club for children in their neighborhood. Another highlight of her years in California was teaching at a children's rehab hospital. She was a lay chaplain there for 4 years. The children called her Teacher Judy. She enjoyed writing her own scripts for flannelgraph stories and puppet shows: one of which she used to write her book, "Or-Ange Juice Fight", becoming a published author in 2012 at the age of 68.
Following the death of Bob Nichols, her husband of 24 years, Judy moved to Topeka, Kansas, where she lived out the rest of her life.
She added a new chapter in her teaching experience at Town and Country Christian Church in Topeka when she taught the Joy class, the first Sunday School class of adults she ever taught.
She was a prayer warrior who faithfully loved and prayed for her whole family. She lived to see Scarlett Jane Rehfeldt, her first great grandchild.
She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands: Rochelle and Michael Giordano of Chino Hills, California, and Robin and David Kiesling of Topeka, Kansas; four grandchildren: Lindsey Rehfeldt and her husband, Nate, Katie Prokop and her husband, Jayden, David Giordano, and Davis Kiesling: one great granddaughter, Scarlett Jane Rehfeldt: four step children, Janet Billingsley, Karen Turner and her husband Gerald, June Abbott, and Robert Dale Nichols, Jr. and his wife Tammi; eight step-grandchildren, Joshua Palser and his wife Rachel, Megan Palser, Eric Turner, Wesley Turner and Chelsea Petersen and her husband, Stephen; Tyler Nichols and his wife Chelsey, Miranda Nichols, and Brandon Nichols and his wife Caitlin; and 4 step-great grandchildren, Austin Palser, Lucas Palser, Bethany Nichols, and Beckett Nichols. She is also survived by her brothers and their wives, Terence and Karen Davis, and Ronald and Judy Davis, her sister Deanna Barber and her brother-in-law Robert Bolduc.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Nichols, her stepdaughter Glenda Coons, her nephew Dean Davis, and her sister Patricia Bolduc.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Dove Cremations and Funerals, Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd, Topeka, Kansas.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 4, 2023 at the funeral home.
Judy's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.
To leave a special message for Judy's family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Judith Ann Nichols, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Dove Cremations & Funerals - Southwest
Service
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
Dove Cremations & Funerals - Southwest
Guestbook
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