Lottie Roberta Nichols passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Home in Fontanelle, Iowa. She lost a battle with the ramifications from Covid-19.
Roberta was born on November 25, 1928, the daughter of Michael and Laura (Sackett) McCarthy. Due to family health issues and abandonment, Roberta was adopted and raised by her aunt and uncle, Ray and Lottie South.
In her youth, Roberta attended country school northeast of Greenfield and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1946. She said that the lessons learned growing up on a farm during the Great Depression served her well in later years.
On January 4, 1948, Roberta was united in marriage to Virgil E. Nichols. The couple was blessed with three children, Barabara Ann, Roeline and Jim.
Roberta worked as a school teacher, Assistant County Auditor and as a bookkeeper at Schildbergs and Don Carlos Insurance Agency in Greenfield. In her later years, she worked as a tour guide and accountant at the Iowa Aviation Museum. She truly loved giving tours and meeting the 100’s of people that visited the museum.
She enjoyed camping and fishing with Virgil and family. Summer vacations found this family in a camper somewhere in this great country. Family was the center of her life, whether her own children or later, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She spent countless hours attending the events of her family.
Roberta found great pleasure in creating friendships. Her circle of friends brought great memories and comfort to her life. Her family called these women, Shirley Swoyer, Wanda Purdy, Verna Mae Ferguson and countless others, the “Greenfield Ladies” and the “Four Musketeers.” Roberta loved all of her friends and the city of Greenfield with ferocity. She also loved the Greenfield Tigers, Nodaway Valley Wolverines, Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones and the UNI Panthers. She simply loved sports.
Roberta was a member of the United Methodist Church in Greenfield. Her faith was an essential element of her life.
She was the strength and “rock” of her family. She will be remembered for self-sacrifice, hard work, the value of family, unconditional love and compassion for others. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, friend, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her son, Jim (Salli) Nichols of Storm Lake; Grandchildren Matt (Shannon) Fecher of Jefferson; Jeffrey (Jen) Fecher of West Lafayette, Indiana; Tim Fecher of Greenfield; Jordan (Jeff) Jorgensen of Storm Lake; Ty (Ashlee) Nichols of Algona. Roberta is further survived by her great-grandchildren Kendall, Carter and Chase Fecher; Lauren and Allison Fecher; Vivian, June and Rosemary Jorgensen; Zackary Nichols.
Roberta was preceded in death by her mother, Laura McCarthy, adoptive parents Ray and Lottie South, husband Virgil Nichols, twin sister Rebecca Culver, brother Lloyd McCarthy and daughters Barbara Ann and Roeline.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at a later date. The Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the Roberta Nichols memorial fund.
