Ann Henrietta Nicholson

July 29, 1919 - January 16, 2016

Ann Henrietta Nicholson Obituary (Age 96) Ann Henrietta Vander Veen was born on July 26, 1919, in Pease, Minnesota. Pease was settled by Dutch immigrants who brought with them the faith of the Dutch Christian Reform Church. Pease?s small population of 200 centered itself around the activities of the church. The church owned and operated the city park, cemetery and its private school. The church had very restrictive tenets in how to live daily life. As children, Ann and one of her sisters sang duets in church. There were two Sunday services: The early service was in the Dutch language and the latter service was in English. Ann saw the Rural Electrical Administration bring electrical power to rural Minnesota in the 1930?s. She also liked listening to FDR?s fireside chats on the radio. After she graduated from high school, Ann and her sister moved to Grand Haven, Michigan. She first worked as a waitress and then got hired as a bookkeeper with an airplane propeller manufacturer in Grand Haven during WWII. She eventually moved to Denver, CO, where she met her husband, Sidney H. Nicholson, Jr, (Nick) who was in the Air Force. They were married in 1949. Nick was then called up to serve in the Korean War. They reunited when Nick was transferred to Tachikowa, AFB, Japan. They had their first son there, Sidney H. III (Nicky) in 1952. Their second son, Terry Lee, was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1955. Ann got to be a stay-at-home mom while her husband pursued his career as a USAF Master Sargent during the Cold War. They were stationed in many different countries and were able to experience different societies and cultures. Ann was very artistic. She sang first soprano solos at on-base churches. She took several art classes, and she and Nick won several prizes for their on-base gardening and yard work. Nick was transferred to FAFB and then retired from the Air Force in 1961. They bought a house. Nick went to EWU on the GI bill. Ann found a full time job as a bookkeeper. Their sons went to public schools. Her energy was exceptional. She worked full time and then made full dinners for the family every night. She also supported her sons? activities. One of her ongoing endeavors was upgrading the family house. She loved the house which she had lived in for 50 years. She would sometimes stay up until 2:00 am painting rooms and she would buy different furnishings for each room. After long illnesses, Nick died in 1973. She pursued an AA degree in fine arts for a short time and then became a real estate agent for 20 years. She worked until she was 75 years old. As she got older, she drew her sons closer to her and her sons then grew closer to her as well. She lived for 96 years. May God bless her spirit. A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, February 17 at 11:00 at Heritage Chapel.