Ottawa - Gary Duane Nicholson, 78, passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at his home in rural Ottawa. He was born on November 15, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Harvey and Thelma (Hoskinson) Nicholson.  Gary had lived most of his life in the Ottawa community.

Gary graduated from Ottawa High School and had worked as an inspector for Haven Steel in Ottawa. He was a member of the Pomona Assembly of God Church, Hell on Wheels of Topeka, Rolling Thunder of Kansas City, the Ottawa Veterans Day Parade, Heartland Military Days in Topeka and was a volunteer at the National Guard Museum in Topeka.

On August 9, 1964, Gary was united in marriage to Margaret Franks in Pomona. To this union three children were born, Paul, Victoria and William.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Thelma; his step-father, Howard Foster who helped raise him; his two brothers, Dallas and Harvey Nicholson; his sister, Eletheir Presnal; his two step-brothers, James and Todd Foster; his two step-sisters, Opal Shepherd and Gail Sawyer; and his two grandsons, Paul Nicholson, Jr. and Santos Pena.

Gary is survived by his wife Margaret of 59 years; his three children, Paul (Vickie) Nicholson of Pomona, Victoria (Randy) Leach of Pomona and William (Mayouly) Nicholson of Vassar; his sister, Lanora Newell of Nebraska; his step-brother, Squire Foster; his step-sister, Dorothy Avery; eleven grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren.

A visitation for Gary will be held on Tuesday, October 24 from 6:30 to 8:00pm at the Feltner Funeral Chapel in Lyndon. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Transplant Network (Nebraska Medical Center), sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451.