Ian Miles Nichelson, age 33, of North Platte, Nebraska went to his heavenly home on October 26, 2020 at Great Plains Health in North Platte. Ian was born on January 27, 1987 at Great Plains Health. He was baptized at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte. He attended St. Patrick's Catholic School and North Platte Public Schools, graduating with the Class of 2005.
During his high school years, he worked part-time at Arby’s for his Aunt Dort. He learned from her at a young age what hard work was. After graduation he worked at Menards for a while then he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to do tile work for a man he met while working at Arby’s. He had told that man that he wanted to work for him 3 years prior. When he finished school, he contacted him. He worked for Tile Kings for 2 years, traveling to many places doing tile jobs, many of them at Starbucks. He got to go to Lake Tahoe, Mt. Rushmore, many places in Colorado and Nebraska. He moved back to Nebraska a couple years later and did tile work on the side, on his own after learning the trade. He did many beautiful floors, kitchens and bathrooms. He was so proud of his work. He then went to work for the City of North Platte with the Sanitation Department. He had some wonderful times working with the men on those crews. His love for people’s back yards, gardens, kids and pets were things he talked about every day and every season. One time he said that someone called in to report a dead bird flopping around. He remembers his boss asked “what kind of bird is it?” A pterodactyl or what?” One of the funniest stories every. He worked for the city of about 8 years. He made a best friend while working there in Chris Werkmeister. In 2015 he quit the city to start his own business “Early Bird & Second Mouse” putting the Old McDaid School Boiler together after it was dismantled, making a huge smoker. He had it built to his specifications, put it on a huge flat bed trailer and started cooking many, many smoked meats, turkeys and cheeses. He won the Honky Tonk BBQ 2 years in a row along with many other awards. He could season meats the way no one else could. He did many events, weddings, graduations and family meals. He was perfect in his job, not matter what he cooked. He loved seeing the looks on peoples faces when he saw them eat his cooking. His trait was homemade breakfast burritos which he has made this whole time. He also smoked cheese, olives, jalapenos & chocolate covered strawberries. He had a gift in cooking for so many.
He also had a love for music. Any of his friends will tell you that. He loved Sally Erna’s letter that said “Have you ever sat & thought what life would be like without music?” He had a list of his top songs, sadly, it has ended now with #410. He played guitar, teaching himself. His passion for music was like no one we have ever known. He put a speaker in the backyard and always turned it up loud when he was outside.
Ian also loved to draw. He won awards for his art and could see things in his drawings that no one else could. He was precise and very detailed in his beautiful art work.
Besides the work, the music, the art, he loved football. So many of his pictures has him and football. Since he was very young, he loved Husker football. Attending his first tailgate at about age 3 with his Uncle Francis in Lincoln, Nebraska. He played every recess in school with his classmates. We had a family get-to-gether’s in August & guess what?? We all threw that footfall. His best friend & “other brother”, Nathan Epley, threw countless football passes. He loved the Raiders, with the Patriots a close 2nd, but Nebraska was his favorite. He had to have every football card ever printed when he was younger. A fortune spent on football cards. When Ian was little, he had a passion for animals and creepy things too, like snakes! Our neighborhood still has an abundance of snakes because of him. He also loved to fish and to camp. He once saved a baby possum by taking it to the river because he didn’t want it to die. He loved birds, along with his cat Bobby, who passed away this summer. Then he got really close to the other cat Spirit, who never used to like him. Lover of nature, wildlife and pets for sure. All started at a young age. He loved nurturing & especially taking care of our earth, too, always recycling anything.
Besides all these passions in a short life, his love for his family was the biggest. He never missed a family event in all of his 33 years, sometime hating for birthdays, holidays, weddings, Czech Days, football games, concerts and anything else to end. He had a unique & robust passion for life. He never was negative. Always listening, always happy, always kind, always a good helper, and always a joy to have around. No one could ask of anyone better, ever. A life of love & a passion that only God could give to him to show how to live it. He loved God. He didn’t talk about it much, but he always believed in God & knew he was here.
Ian was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wesley & Opal Pecenka, Donald & Bessie Nichelson, his Aunt Dorothea & his Uncle Pete.
Left to cherish his life are his parents, Gary and DiAnn of North Platte; Aunt JoJo Jensen & Uncle Cory of North Platte, Uncle Francis & Aunt Dawn, Lincoln, NE, Uncle Michael & Aunt Cindy, Hendersonville, TN, Uncle Mark & Aunt Sharon, North Platte, Aunt Linda, North Platte. Cousins; Billy (Ashley) Nichelson, North Platte, Rebecka & Cole Mossman, Omaha, Matthew & Shanna Jensen, Wayne, NE, James Jensen, North Platte, A.J. (Cidney) Freeze, Kearney, NE, Stephanie House, Lincoln, NE, Shelby Pecenka, Lincoln, NE, Adam Pecenka (Angelese) Hendersonville, TN, Aaron Pecenka, Hendersonville, TN; his best friend since age 5, Nathan Epley, best friends; Chris Werkmeister & Family and godson Lennon Werkmeister, along with many, many friends.
Book signing will be held noon-6:00p.m., Saturday, October 31, 2020 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. Visitation on Nebraska game day and Halloween would be fitting for Ian. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte is in charge of arrangements. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte.
CDC COVID-19 guidelines will be respected and therefore masks and social distancing are suggested.