Judith Ann Nichols, 79
Judith Ann (Davis, Matzke) Nichols entered heaven and the arms of the Savior on April 19, 2023, inTopeka, Kansas.
Judy was born in Bridgeport, Nebraska on April 22, 1943, to Iola andWard Davis. She was the middle child of five siblings, having two older brothers (Ted and Ron) and two younger sisters (Deanna and Patt).
Judy graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1961 and The Lincoln School of Commerce in 1962.
She married Robert Keith Matzke, Jr. on July 15, 1962; they were divorced in 1968.They had two daughters, Rochelle Kristine and Robin Kolette.
Judy worked for the Bridgeport Equipment Company for over a decade, where she put her secretarial skills to use, and where her daughters loved visiting whenever their mother allowed it. Secretly, Rochelle and Robin were hoping for chocolates from August Goltl, who always brought them a boxful onValentine’s Day.
Judy was active in the Assembly of God Church in Bridgeport, something she shared with Robert (Bob) Nichols.They were married on January 12, 1978. Judy gained five stepchildren (Janet, Karen, Glenda, June, and Dale) and two step-grandchildren. Other Nichols grandkids followed.
In 1987 Bob and Judy moved to southern California, but returned to their Nebraskan roots in the early ’90s.
A natural teacher, Judy spent much of her life teaching children. A favorite memory of her daughters is when she taught Children’s Church with Barbara Clayton at Bridgeport Assembly of God in the ’70s.
Judy was not constrained to teaching within church walls. During the years she and Bob lived in California, she and a friend hosted the Sunshine Club, an in-home children’s Bible club for children in their neighborhood. Another highlight of her years in California was teaching at a children’s rehab hospital, where she was a lay chaplain for 4 years. She enjoyed writing her own scripts for flannelgraph stories and puppet shows, one of which she used to write her book, “Or-Ange Juice Fight,” becoming a published author in 2012 at the age of 68.
Following the death of Bob Nichols, her husband of 24 years, Judy moved toTopeka, Kansas, where she lived out the rest of her life.There she added a new chapter in her teaching experience atTown and Country Christian Church when she taught her first adult group, the Joy Sunday Sckhool class.
She was a prayer warrior who faithfully loved and prayed for her whole family.
She is survived by her two daughters, Rochelle (Michael) Giordano of Chino Hills, CA, and Robin (David) Kiesling of Topeka, KS; four grandchildren: Lindsey (Nate) Rehfeldt, Katie (Jayden) Prokop, David Giordano, and Davis Kiesling; one great-granddaughter, Scarlett Jane Rehfeldt; four step-children, Janet Billingsley, Karen (Gerald) Turner, June Abbott, and Robert Dale (Tammi) Nichols, Jr.; eight step-grandchildren, Joshua (Rachel) Palser, Megan Palser, EricTurner,WesleyTurner and Chelsea (Stephen) Petersen;Tyler (Chelsey) Nichols, Miranda Nichols, and Brandon (Caitlin) Nichols; and 4 step-great-grandchildren, Austin Palser, Lucas Palser, Bethany Nichols, and Beckett Nichols. She is also survived by her brothers,Terence and (Karen) Davis, and Ronald (Judy) Davis, her sister Deanna Barber, and her brother-in-law Robert Bolduc.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Nichols, her stepdaughter Glenda Coons, her nephew Dean Davis, and her sister Patricia Bolduc.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.,Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Dove Cremations and Funerals, Southwest Chapel, 3700 SWWanamaker Road,Topeka, Kansas.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m.,Thursday, May 4, 2023 at the funeral home. Judy’s services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time, accessible from the funeral home’s website: www. DoveTopeka.com.