Thomas William “Tom” Nichols, age 86 of Leonardville, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the Leonardville Nursing Home.
He was born on April 26, 1937, the son of Ross Eugene and Evelyn Ann (Wertzberger) Nichols.
On November 9, 1957, he married Sylda Ann Randall in Wamego, Kansas.
Tom worked at KP&L as a gas service foreman for 37 years. After retirement, he was a driver for Little Apple Toyota Honda. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends, dances at the American Legion with Sylda and working all week on the 24K race car so that his son, Kip, could race it on the weekends.
After retirement, he and Sylda were snowbirds and traveled to the southwestern United States in their motor home. Tom was a jokester, always remembering the joke and punch line, even later in life when other memories faded, he always had a joke to tell.
He is survived by his wife, Sylda of Leonardville; a daughter, Angie Evans and husband Roz of Manhattan; a son, Kip Nichols and wife Peggy of Olathe; six grandchildren, Brandi (Tress) Potter, Derek (Brooke) Nichols, Dustin Nichols, T’Anna Augustine, Brittany Fielder and Courtney Evans; ten great grandchildren, Khairi, Khylan, Khyzire, Malachi, Jamarion, Alyricah, Cahani, Tristan, Avrie and Theron; and three nieces, Terry, Sherri and Debbie.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Alfred (Bud) Umscheid.
Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley with Pastor Leslye Haller officiating. The family will receive friends 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Private family inurnment will be in the Wamego City Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Riley United Methodist Church and left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.