Mount Hope, WI-Keith Floyd Nichols, age 93 died on Tuesday morning Oct. 15, 2013 at his residence in Mount Hope. He was born on Dec. 16, 1919 in Mount Hope Township, Grant Co., WI the son of Wilbur and Carrie Belle (Cairns) Nichols. Keith graduated from Mount Hope High School in 1937. He furthered his education at the Platteville Mining School until returning home to help his father on the farm.
Keith married Edna Rewey on Jan. 1, 1940 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. They started farming side by side in Mount Hope until her death on Oct. 21, 1990.
Farming and later always keeping account of the farm’s activities was Keith’s life. For the past 74 years, Keith has lived on the same farm in Mount Hope and his wish was to see his great-grandsons run the farm in the future. He has been a member of the Holstein Association since 1950, traveling with friends and participating in many shows, sales, and conventions. It was always a pleasure for him to see a good animal, and spend time with his dog Fred and later Bert. Keith also enjoyed bowling and traveling to Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Canada, and the East Coast. He truly loved farming, but adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, clipping articles from the paper and watching all of their activities.
Keith is survived by his two children; Marlys (Jim) Schmitz, and Maurice Nichols both of Mount Hope, seven adored grandchildren; Brian Nichols of Mt. Hope, Diane Nichols of Mt. Horeb, Scott (Charlene) Nichols, Gary Nichols, Michelle Schmitz (Kenny Nies) of Mt. Hope, Amy (Brian) Quick of Mt. Horeb, and Ryan Schmitz of San Mato, CA. Keith intently followed the activities of 13 great-grandchildren; Trevor, Ernie and Lance Nichols, Keith Cahill and Eric Logan Nichols, David, Matthew, Andrew, and Ava Nies, Brielle Quick, Nia Scovol, Emily (JD) Amador, and Justin Jones. Keith is also survived by brother-in-laws, John Rewey of Prairie du Chien and Dick Rewey of Madison, and a sister-in-law Wilma Wilkinson of Mt. Hope.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, wife Edna, brother Mark (Margaret) Nichols, two infant grandchildren, Mother and Father-in-law, Ed and Ruth Rewey, sister-in-laws; Myrna Newhouse and Mary Lou Brandemuehl, and a brother-in-law Clark Rewey.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday Oct. 18, 2013 at the Mount Hope United Methodist Church with burial in the Hermitage Cemetery rural Mount Hope. Visitation will be held from 4-8:00 P.M on Thursday Oct. 17, 2013 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Friday morning. In lieu of plants and flowers a memorial fund is being established in loving memory of Keith F. Nichols.