Gwendolyn Winifred (Lister) Nicholson

 

PORTAGE –  Gwen W. Nicholson, age 97, of Portage, passed away on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Divine Savior Healthcare Hospital.

Gwen was born on May 25, 1914 in Savannah, Illinois, the daughter of Louis and Maude Leila (Roth) Lister.  She attended grades K – 8 at the Training School for Teachers in connection with the Platteville Teachers College, now known as the University of Wisconsin – Platteville.  She graduated from Platteville High School and attended the College in Platteville, studying journalism.  Gwen worked in Chicago and Platteville before her marriage to Joseph D. Nicholson on June 4, 1947.  They were married in the Platteville Methodist Church.  Gwen and Joe lived in Clintonville, Wisconsin for 10 years.  There they had a son, Bruce and a daughter, Claire.  Gwen looked after the children as a stay-at-home mom.  She was a loving wife and mother.  In 1957, they moved to Portage, Wisconsin, where Gwen was a very active member of the United Methodist Church, being a president of the Women’s Society, while also holding other various positions in the church offices.  Gwen was also a member of the Mary Elizabeth Circle.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Joseph;  her parents, Louis and Maude Lister;  her sister, Mrs. Mildred Adicks;  a brother, Gordon;  and her granddaughter, Kelly Jean Nicholson, daughter of Bruce and Donna Nicholson. 

Survivors are a son, Bruce, his wife Donna, and grandchildren, Scott, his wife Tricia, great-grandchildren, Camryn and Evan, Brent, his wife Katie, Laura, her husband Robert Mendala;  a daughter, Claire, her husband Mike Hinickle, and granddaughter Stacy, her husband Paul Opalewski, great-grandchildren, Isabella and Isaac;  other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2011 at the Portage United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Tom Countryman officiating.  Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Portage Kiwanis Club.