William Bennett Nichols, Iii

William “Bill” Nichols, III, 99 of Chetek passed away Thursday, November 07, 2013 at his residence.  He was born in Chicago, Illinois May 28, 1914 the son of Clara (deClercq) and William Bennett Nichols, II.

Bill graduated from high school in Chicago and moved to Chetek in the 1930’s.  He married Eleanor Florence Lindblad December 22, 1938 on the Lindblad farm in Chetek.  Bill and Eleanor raised their 10 children on the dairy farm they operated until his retirement.  Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman, hunting until the age of 89.

From the Chetek Alert’s ‘”Stories of Love”, February 10, 2005


Bill Nichols, 90, was raised near Chicago. His family vacationed in the summers in the Chetek area for many years before his family decided to move here permanently.

Bill moved to Chetek when he was 19 years old to dairy farm and also work as a milk inspector. He farmed for almost 60 years before retiring. Bill loves the outdoors and has been an avid sportsman for most of his life. He loved fishing and hunting and enjoyed both activities until the last couple of years.

Eleanor, 85, has lived in this area all her life. Described as a true “supermom” by her children, she dedicated her life to raising 10 children while working on the farm and maintaining a household. She loves to cook and thinks of any reason to gather her family around her to this day.

Eleanor met Bill for the first time at the age of 16 while she was employed at a dairy farm as a babysitter/housekeeper and bill had come to the farm to test milk. They dated for three years and were married when Eleanor was 19 and Bill was 24. They took a honeymoon trip to Chicago so Bill could show his new bride the big city. Eleanor had never traveled beyond Wisconsin.

They worked side by side in the fields but when it came to the garden, they each had their separate place. Bill would plant huge gardens, big enough to feed half of the neighborhood. He loved sharing his bountiful harvests with family and friends. Eleanor would spend long hours canning and freezing the vegetables that Bill produced for use after the garden had been put to bed for the winter.

They basically had to start over when they lost everything to a house fire in December of 1947. The Nichols family had six children at the time, including a set of 3-week-old twins and a 14-month-old. Eleanor always laughs when she tells the story because all she could think about saving were the diapers.

They rebuilt on the same spot as the old farmhouse. Bill retired from farming and has sold much of the farmland, but they remain living in the same house they built after the fire, the house that will always be home to all their children.


Bill is survived by his wife Eleanor, children; Anne Goodremote of Cameron, Emilie Wanders of Chetek, William Nichols IV (Lois Ristow) of Altoona, Louise (Alan) Olson of Cameron, Linda (Joseph) Gryz of Rockford, Illinois, Larry (Pat) Nichols of Chetek, Fred (Hilary) Nichols of Chetek, Pat Richardson of Melbourne, Florida, Sandra (Steven) Maxwell of Melbourne, Florida, David (Sherrie) Nichols of New Auburn.  Also survived by 21 Grandchildren, many Great-Grandchildren, other relatives and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents, sons-in-law; Oscar Goodremote and John Wanders.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 11, 2013 at Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home.  Visitation will be from 10-11:00 A.M. on Monday.  The Burial will take place in Lakeview Cemetery following the Funeral Service.   Please sign and view the online guest book at www.burnhamours.com.

Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.