Darwin "Nick" Nickolisen

Darwin “Nick” Nickolisen, son of Miller and Doris Nickolisen, was born August 22,1955, in Denison, Iowa. He entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at MercyOne Iowa Heart Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 67. Funeral services will take place Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place Friday, September 23, 2022 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Darwin was raised in Smithland, Iowa and attended school in Westwood. He was very active in athletics during high school, and he graduated in 1973. Darwin attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake earning his Bachelors of Science in mass communications and minor in education in 1977. On September 9, 1978, Darwin was united in marriage to Brenda Jean Cone in Storm Lake, Iowa. Together, they were blessed with two children: Nathan and Kayla. The family made their home on a farm near Alta and Darwin worked as farmer, seed representative, and Physical Education teacher for many years. Darwin enjoyed coaching his children in their sporting activities, and most of all being a superhero to them. Darwin was a big sports fan and he thoroughly enjoyed cheering for the Iowa State Cyclones and the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed farming, trips to Smithland, boating, mowing and bonfires. A favorite pastime of Darwin’s was bantering with friends and family and he had a keen use of sarcasm. Another favorite was attending Peterson’s Jewelry coffee club. He loved his family and his dogs and treasured spending time with them. His mottos were, “Pain is just weakness leaving the body and "I can't wait until tomorrow, I get better looking every day!" Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Brenda Nickolisen, his children: Nathan (Lauren) Nickolisen of Milford, Iowa; Kayla Nickolisen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; four sisters: Kathie Menin of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Karla (Dave) Lange of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; Tricia (Doug) Durst of Shawnee, Kansas; Amy (Dennis) O’Neal of Whiting, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, Miller and Doris Nickolisen and parents-in-law, Carroll and Patricia Cone. He will be missed dearly by family and friends alike. Memorials will be directed to Iowa Heart Center Foundation.

Darwin "Nick" Nickolisen

August 22, 1955 - September 20, 2022