Mary Lou Nicholas

On May 23, 2025, just 6 days shy of her 97th birthday, Mary Lou Nicholas of Clear Lake, went home to be with her Lord and Savior and was reunited with the love of her life, William L. Nicholas.  Mary Lou was born on May 29, 1928 on a farm west of Otranto, Iowa to William H. And Myrtle A. Ogden.

Mary Lou lived a life filled with worldwide travel and exciting adventures with Bill, but in many ways, she always considered herself a simple farm girl who was content with very little. Her family encountered many hardships during the Great Depression, including losing the family farm as well as the devastating loss of her older brother, Merle, a P-38 Lightning pilot, who died in World War II.  Many events from this time shaped her into the woman she became and were never far from her mind for the rest of her life.

By far the most important thing to Mary Lou was her family, as evidenced by her marriage to Bill for over 70 years.  Bill and Mary Lou were lifelong residents of Clear Lake, where they built not only a home but a lasting legacy rooted in family and hard work. Together, they raised three sons — Bill, Greg, and Jeff— instilling in them the same values they cherished: integrity, perseverance, and the importance of a Christ centered life.  As their sons began families of their own, they, too, chose to make their homes in Clear Lake. The family farm remains a living testament to a shared dream, now sustained by multiple generations.

Mary Lou and Bill were married at the First Methodist Church in Mason City on December 17, 1950. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1946, attended Iowa State Teachers College, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1949. Anyone who knew her for more than 15 minutes knew that she graduated from college in 3 years, a fact of which she was very proud! She taught elementary education at Madison School in Mason City, substituted in Mason City and Clear Lake, and then became a teacher’s associate for 17 ½ years at Central School in Clear Lake.

Throughout her life, Mary Lou was a tireless advocate for underserved and at-risk people. In her later years, instead of relaxing on the beach during Florida winters, she chose to give back—volunteering at Beachland and Citrus Elementary Schools in Vero Beach, mentoring an at-risk young boy for several years, and serving meals to the homeless at The Source. She was a very committed Christian and participated in (and helped lead) numerous Bible studies and small groups over the years, as well as teaching Sunday School for over 15 years. She was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church and Christ By the Sea Methodist Church in Vero Beach, Florida. She was also a former chairwoman of Cerro Gordo County Republican Women, former President of P.E.O. Chapter E.A. and the 21st Century Club.

Mary Lou was a spitfire (particularly in later life) — sharp, funny, and full of life. Her quick wit and warm heart made her unforgettable to everyone who knew her. Mary Lou touched countless lives through her generosity, her wisdom, and her genuine care for others. Whether it was family, friends, neighbors, or someone she’d just met, she made people feel valued and loved. Above all, Mary Lou’s life was grounded in her strong faith and devotion to Christ. She lived with purpose, guided by her belief in God’s grace, and she shared that love through her words and actions every day. Her faith was her foundation, and it shone through in the way she lived.  She was a remarkable woman, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend — and her legacy of love, laughter, and faith will continue to live on in all who were blessed to know her.

Mary Lou is survived by her three sons, William (Barbara) Nicholas, Gregory (Julie) Nicholas, and Jeffrey (JoAnn) Nicholas, all of Clear Lake; grandchildren, Carolyn (Gabe Haugland), Greg Jr. (Erin Marie) Nicholas, Emily (Cory Gerdts), Andrew (Paige) Nicholas, all of Clear Lake and Victoria Nicholas (and fiancé Travis Grandgeorge) of Ankeny; and great-grandchildren, Grace and Nicholas Haugland, Bella, Cecelia, and Liam Nicholas,

Landry and Avi Gerdts, Estelle, William, and Eva Nicholas as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mary Lou was predeceased by her beloved husband as well as her parents, her parents-in-law W.H and Viola Nicholas, her brother, Merle, and in-laws Bonnie and Ed Schick and Idella and Hal Dukes.

Bill and Mary Lou’s legacy is etched not only in the soil around Clear Lake but in the hearts of all who knew them — a quiet, enduring reminder of what it means to build something that lasts.  They are deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever honored by the family they built and the life they shaped together.

A funeral service for Mary Lou will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 2 nd Ave North, Clear Lake, with Pastor Tom Gerdts officiating. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to a reception at the Clear Lake Yacht Club, 103 Main Ave. Clear Lake, Iowa 50428.

A visitation will be held Friday June 6, 2025, the family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m. at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave North,

Clear Lake, Iowa 50428. Memorials may be directed to the charity of the donor’s choice in Mary Lou’s memory.

The family would like to thank Oakwood Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for the outstanding care given to Mom over the last few months! You are appreciated very much!

Ward Van Slyke is in charge of arrangements.