Obituary for Teresa Marie Nikolai
Teresa Marie Nikolai, 66, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., untethered her ’56 Mustang soul from her ’91 Tempo body on February 23, 2023. She maneuvered the rocky road of life with an unbeatable zest and love for her family and friends, as well as any stranger in need.
Some knew her as Terri. Some as Mama Fox. Grandma. Bamma. Mom. Mumsy. She responded to each with a smile, a hug, and very likely, a few bags of treasures she’d picked up for you from one thrift shop or another. How many spatulas and hand towels does one person need? Now we will never know. But it is at least 6 per person. And no limit on the legos and board books and toy tractors! She would buy every one she ever found for her grands, if it helped convey her love and dedication to each of them. Ava, Eleanor, Zachary, Elias, Lucas, and Lewis, all equally adored by her, as were her own children, Katie, Matt (Jamie), and Janna (Nick). She lived the last years of her life with her love, Frank Thomas, and her collection of pets, popping in and out of their home amidst travels to babysit any time she was needed.
Though we know she is going to continue popping in to check on us all as often as they’ll give her a pass to come back down here on her well-earned wings, there’s no doubt she’s loving every moment of catching up with her dearly-missed parents, Chuck and Carol Nikolai.
The eldest of six, she blazes the trail to heaven ahead of her siblings Julie, Sue, Greg, Eric, and Paul Nikolai. She was born on December 27, 1956, grew up in Chilton, Wisc., attended Fox Valley Technical College, married young, and eventually moved to Iron Mountain, Mich., and then Spread Eagle, Wisc., where she remained the wife of John Fox for over 30 years. During this time, she grew her own thriving paint and wallpaper business, raised three kids, brought to life her dream of owning horses, and made sure we all were kept alive and fed one of four or five signature meals made on a rotating basis. Thanks to the distraction of the horses, not all meals were entirely unburnt, but oh well.
She loved flowers and shrubs, and landscaping her home within an inch of its life. She loved the thrill of new baby animals. All things cobalt glass. All things holding dear memories of her mother. All things chocolate (hidden in her purse). Her hugs were all-consuming, her smile bright, and her scent a nostalgic mix of Tide detergent and Oil of Beauty face lotion.
She was filled with pride that her only son is a veteran and doctor (and oh-so handsome!), her eldest daughter endlessly conquers life’s plot twists with resilience and creativity, and her youngest daughter can orchestrate a phenomenal home build better than any man twice her size and age.
Terri will be forever loved and missed by all her family and friends. In particular, her partner and love Frank, Frank’s children and grandchildren, most especially his daughter Michelle (Robert) Cormier, twins Elijah and Hayden Cormier whom she loved as her own grands, her very dear friend Jo (Simon) Poulin, all of her siblings, and her sisters and brother in law (Mary, Michelle, and Paula Nikolai, and Markian Feduschak), former in-laws, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Also, all the people that her daughter writing this cannot think to name, but know you are named in her heart forever. Most of all, she will be loved and missed daily and forever by her kids and grandkids. But we can all rest assured, her spirit is carried forward in the smiles of her grandkids and, someday down the road, her great-grandkids and beyond.
So in honor of Terri, go hug someone you love, and do something nice for a stranger today and every day. And for those car folks out there who caught the inaccurate detail in the first sentence, yes, I know Ford Mustangs didn’t arrive on the market until 1964. It’s called POETIC LICENSE, and I’m claiming it here on behalf of my mother! Go with it.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain, Mich. The visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., followed by services at 11:00 a.m.
Flowers are appreciated, or, in lieu of flowers, donations toward the service are much appreciated.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Teresa’s legacy of life.
Friends and family may leave condolences and tributes to Teresa’s family at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
Some knew her as Terri. Some as Mama Fox. Grandma. Bamma. Mom. Mumsy. She responded to each with a smile, a hug, and very likely, a few bags of treasures she’d picked up for you from one thrift shop or another. How many spatulas and hand towels does one person need? Now we will never know. But it is at least 6 per person. And no limit on the legos and board books and toy tractors! She would buy every one she ever found for her grands, if it helped convey her love and dedication to each of them. Ava, Eleanor, Zachary, Elias, Lucas, and Lewis, all equally adored by her, as were her own children, Katie, Matt (Jamie), and Janna (Nick). She lived the last years of her life with her love, Frank Thomas, and her collection of pets, popping in and out of their home amidst travels to babysit any time she was needed.
Though we know she is going to continue popping in to check on us all as often as they’ll give her a pass to come back down here on her well-earned wings, there’s no doubt she’s loving every moment of catching up with her dearly-missed parents, Chuck and Carol Nikolai.
The eldest of six, she blazes the trail to heaven ahead of her siblings Julie, Sue, Greg, Eric, and Paul Nikolai. She was born on December 27, 1956, grew up in Chilton, Wisc., attended Fox Valley Technical College, married young, and eventually moved to Iron Mountain, Mich., and then Spread Eagle, Wisc., where she remained the wife of John Fox for over 30 years. During this time, she grew her own thriving paint and wallpaper business, raised three kids, brought to life her dream of owning horses, and made sure we all were kept alive and fed one of four or five signature meals made on a rotating basis. Thanks to the distraction of the horses, not all meals were entirely unburnt, but oh well.
She loved flowers and shrubs, and landscaping her home within an inch of its life. She loved the thrill of new baby animals. All things cobalt glass. All things holding dear memories of her mother. All things chocolate (hidden in her purse). Her hugs were all-consuming, her smile bright, and her scent a nostalgic mix of Tide detergent and Oil of Beauty face lotion.
She was filled with pride that her only son is a veteran and doctor (and oh-so handsome!), her eldest daughter endlessly conquers life’s plot twists with resilience and creativity, and her youngest daughter can orchestrate a phenomenal home build better than any man twice her size and age.
Terri will be forever loved and missed by all her family and friends. In particular, her partner and love Frank, Frank’s children and grandchildren, most especially his daughter Michelle (Robert) Cormier, twins Elijah and Hayden Cormier whom she loved as her own grands, her very dear friend Jo (Simon) Poulin, all of her siblings, and her sisters and brother in law (Mary, Michelle, and Paula Nikolai, and Markian Feduschak), former in-laws, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Also, all the people that her daughter writing this cannot think to name, but know you are named in her heart forever. Most of all, she will be loved and missed daily and forever by her kids and grandkids. But we can all rest assured, her spirit is carried forward in the smiles of her grandkids and, someday down the road, her great-grandkids and beyond.
So in honor of Terri, go hug someone you love, and do something nice for a stranger today and every day. And for those car folks out there who caught the inaccurate detail in the first sentence, yes, I know Ford Mustangs didn’t arrive on the market until 1964. It’s called POETIC LICENSE, and I’m claiming it here on behalf of my mother! Go with it.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain, Mich. The visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., followed by services at 11:00 a.m.
Flowers are appreciated, or, in lieu of flowers, donations toward the service are much appreciated.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Teresa’s legacy of life.
Friends and family may leave condolences and tributes to Teresa’s family at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.