Bob Nixon of Anacortes, Wash., died Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012.
Bob Nixon was born in the town of Sheldon to Charles and Josephine Nixon in August 1919. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in Ontario, where he graduated in 1939 from Ontario High School, in a class of 22 students. While in high school, Bob enjoyed playing basketball and was a star on the track team.
In 1945, he married Iris Clement, to whom he was happily married for 54 years.
Bob worked many years in construction, pouring concrete and helping construct numerous public buildings. He and Iris also ran a small restaurant and bar, saving their money for a house. Eventually Bob was able to build that home in Appleton, where he had a backyard garden, which was his pride and joy.
After his retirement, Bob loved to build furniture and do other carpentry projects, and every year he and Iris harvested and canned vegetables from the garden.
In 1999, Iris passed away, and among the condolences Bob received a letter from Neola Lower, an old friend from high school who had also recently lost her husband. He and Neola started corresponding with each other, and in August 2000 Bob came out to Washington State, where Neola lived, for a visit. The following year, they were married, in their early 80s, in Wisconsin. They lived in Anacortes, Wash., keeping each other company and reminiscing about old times in their youth. Neola died in 2010, and Bob continued living in Anacortes until his death. Bob was 93 when he passed peacefully in his sleep.
He is survived by his stepdaughter, Jean Wilke; his daughter-in-law, Ruth Clement; and his stepdaughters, Candace and Lucy Lower.
The survivors would especially like to thank Bob and Margo Knorr, Marilyn Derig, Cindy Cleary, Fahimeh Alavi and Lynn Oliver for their care of Bob in his last months. He was greatly cheered and comforted by their presence.
A private family service was held in Anacortes on Sunday, Oct. 21.
To share memories of Bob, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.
