Obit: Nikolay, Frank L. #2 (1922 - 2011)

 

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

 

Surnames: Nikolay, Illig, Grisvold, Talaska, Archambo, Hess, Jensen, Scott, Gamoke, Gruenwald, Hackel

 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 14, 2011

 

Nikolay, Frank L. (1 September 1922 - 10 December 2011) With Flag

 

Frank L. Nikolay, 89, of Abbotsford, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Golden Living Center in Abbotsford.

 

Frank was born Sept. 1, 1922, in the Town of Day, Marathon County, to Jacob and Anna (Illig) Nikolay.  He attended grade school and graduated from Abbotsford High School at the age of 16.  He then entered the University of Madison in a pre-law course.  He was in the National Guard and served for a period at Camp Beaureguard in Louisiana.  When his enlistment ran out and he was discharged, he returned to the University of Wisconsin.  In 1942 he enlisted in the navy and served at Pier 9 in Seattle and then in the South Pacific as a navy yeoman (ships clerk).  He traveled from Marianna Islands to the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan.

 

Frank was discharged from active duty in 1946 when he returned to University of Wisconsin law school and graduated in 1948.  In 1948, he opened a law office in Abbotsford.  In 1951, he turned the office over to his brother, Jack.  From 1952 to 1954 Frank was U. S. Attorney of the western district.  Frank was united in marriage to Mary E. Grisvold of Chippewa Falls Aug. 3, 1957.  In 1958 he was elected to the assembly for Clark County, serving for 10 years as assistant minority leaser and majority floor leader.  Meanwhile, the firm grew to Nikolay, Jensen, Scott, Gamoke and Gruenwald with offices in Abbotsford, Medford and Colby.  Frank enlisted in the 32nd Division National Guard in 1950 as a private and rose through the ranks, retiring as a Colonel in the judge advocate section after 30 years.  Frank was please to serve his communities in a variety of positions as village, city and town board attorney and also a founding director of the Abby State Bank and serving on the Clark County Board for 36 years.

 

Frank had many interests, first and foremost, the plight of his fellow man.  He was an active democrat his whole life.  He believed in helping the "least of these my brethren."  He could be a bulldog when he believed the situation called for it.  However, a "thank you" was never far from his lips, he would want to thank everyone who made his life a meaningful journey, with a special thanks to those who ministered to him in his closing days at Pine Ridge and Golden Living Center for the wonderful care.

 

Frank is survived by his wife, Mary; a brother, Jim (Lee) Nikolay; and a sister, Anne (Tom) Talaska, as well as many nieces and nephews.

 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Anna Nikolay; four brothers, Alfred, Melvin, Jack and George; and two sisters, Helen Archambo and Estelle Hess.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Abbotsford.  Father Daniel Hackel will officiate. A time of visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church on Friday.

 

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral home is assisting the family with arrangements.

 

Online condolences may be sent to www.maurinaschillingfuneralhome.com for your convenience.

 

 


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