Sheila Nichols

Sheila Rae Nichols, 53, Pender, Nebraska was called home to be with her Lord Monday, November 18, 2013. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender, NE. Visitation will be held Friday, November 22, 2013 at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Burial will be at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Ankeny, IA. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland, Pender High School, or Elkhorn Valley Assembly of God Church in West Point, NE. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE. Sheila Rae (Peterson) Nichols was born on May 3, 1960, in Fairmont, Minnesota to Laurel and Marilyn (Falk) Peterson. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Swea City, Iowa. Sheila graduated from Swea City Community High School, Swea City, Iowa with the class of 1978. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree. She then went on to Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design, Minor in Art. She met her husband Mark Nichols while attending Waldorf College. They were united in marriage on August 7, 1982 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Swea City, Iowa. They were blessed with two sons, Grant and Aaron. Sheila enjoyed activities with her family especially their annual vacations to Outing, Minnesota. She loved being a mother, Grant and Aaron received all the love she had to give. Sheila was a vigilant prayer warrior and had great compassion for people. Sheila loved young people and enjoyed working at the Pender Community School as an aide for 17 years and teaching Sunday school. She also loved music and had a beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed singing in church and through high school and college sang in choirs. She served on the Board at the Elkhorn Valley Assembly of God church in West Point. She will be remembered for having a strong relationship with Jesus Christ and knew where her strength came from in times of need. Sheila is survived by her husband Mark Nichols, Pender, Nebraska, two sons, Grant, Des Moines, Iowa, Aaron (Amanda), Marshall, Minnesota, her mother and father Laurel and Marilyn Peterson, Swea City, Iowa, four sisters, Susan (Eric) Ruhser, Elkader, Iowa, Laura Jo (Don) Blanton, North Canton, Ohio, Lynn (Troy) Stade, Welcome, Minnesota, and Kerri (Ryan) Reutzel, Fenton, Iowa. Sheila was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents. Sheila’s relationship with Jesus Christ was the most important thing in her life. She will be greatly missed by all her family and those who loved her.