Joan Downs Nichols

June 10, 1943 – August 19, 2021

On Thursday, August 19, 2021, Joan Katherine Nichols, our loving and adored wife, mom, Grammie, and friend, passed away surrounded by her large family. Jo was born June 10, 1943 in Kalamazoo, MI to Clara V. and Harry C. Downs and was raised by her parents Clara V. and Owen L. Schelling. She grew up in Kalamazoo, MI, graduating from Loy Norrix High School. Shortly after graduating she got married and started a family. As an only child, she hoped to have more than one child herself and was delighted in having five daughters.

On November 12, 1975 she married Thomas S. Nichols. Marrying Tom turned her girls into Army brats. The family spent time in Louisiana and Minnesota before settling in Michigan. They enjoyed spending time together playing games like Yahtzee and playing along with The Newlywed game show, watching the evening CBS shows, and meeting friends for coffee. She enjoyed her time being a stay at home mom as well as her days working as a waitress at Big Boy, The Mattawan Truck Stop and the 145 Truck Stop, but she enjoyed her retirement more. Jo dedicated her life to her family.

According to her, and often repeated, family is everything. She loved being involved in her children and grandchildren’s lives and she celebrated every accomplishment on their journeys. She was a loud cheerleader to their successes, a willing ear to listen to their problems, concerns and stories, and an enthusiastic advisor when advice was sought - and even when it wasn’t. Jo enjoyed spending summer days at the lake, front porch visits with family and friends, dancing, her flower and vegetable gardens, hummingbirds, feeding peanuts to the squirrels (especially One Ear), and most things sweet; a few favorites being donuts, banana taffy, no bake cookies, and peanut butter fudge.

Over the past five years she fought breast cancer, lung cancer, and in the past 13 months, pancreatic cancer. She was strong willed and fought every single health challenge head on with positive thoughts, determined to get more quality time with those she loved. She succeeded beyond expectations. She touched every heart she passed and will be missed deeply by so many. We will miss her smile, her humor, her warmth, her energy, her love for life, family and friends. She shaped this family and taught us how to love. We are forever grateful for her. We were blessed to love and be loved by her.

Jo is survived by her husband of 45 years, Thomas Nichols; her five daughters, Robyn Lovely (Tim Huizenga), Janeene Lovely, Kim (Tony) Burroughs, Jody (Roy) Greenwood, and Dawn Olszewski; grandchildren, Brooke and Brittany Burroughs, Autumn Clark (Wes), Dustin Switzenberg (Brittany), Stephen Olszewski (Bridget), Clara Craft (Anthony), Patrick Lovely (Jami), Dru Olszewski (Emily), Delaney Huizenga, and Temperance Greenwood; great grandchildren, Sam and Owen Soule, Lee and Rylee Gentry, Olivia Nichols, Kesley and Kenzey Clark, Janice and Bryson Craft, Evie and Patrick Lovely, Deegan and Broly Olszewski; long time son Steve Olszewski; her feline boy Izzy; sisters of her heart Diane Reverski, Sierra Wagner and Jan Foster; special friend Gayle Sauck; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to thank the nurses and support staff, Dr. Malcolm Trimble and especially Meghan Armstrong, PA at Henry Ford Allegiance Hematology and Oncology Gayle M. Jacob Center for their warm, kind and compassionate care of Jo through the years.

Visitation will be held Monday, August 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Desnoyer Funeral Home, 204 N. Blackstone, Jackson, MI. A funeral service will also be held at Desnoyer Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 24 at 11:00 AM. A private interment at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI will immediately follow the funeral service.

In keeping with one of Jo’s favorite ways to spend a summer day with family and friends, a casual celebration of life picnic will be held on Saturday, August 28 at 1:00 PM at Portage Lake Park, 144-162 Portage Lake Rd., Munith, MI, 49259. Bring your own chairs and be prepared to swim if you choose.