Nicolas Nieboer

Nicolas James Nieboer, age 92, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 14, 2024. Nick was born on May 3,1932 in Kalamazoo Michigan, the fifth of ten children in the Jacob and Grace Nieboer family. He graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School in 1950 and later was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War where he served as a military policeman. Nick returned to Kalamazoo and met Ann Apotheker while attending services at the First Christian Reformed Church. They were married in 1956, raised four children and lived in a loving relationship for 64 years until Ann's passing in 2020. Nick worked as a draftsman for the National Water Lift Company where he used his skills of precision and accuracy to design hydraulic systems for the aerospace industry. He had a wide variety of interests including world-wide travel, extensive reading, singing in choirs, and playing or watching athletics--especially events involving the Kalamazoo Christian Comets. Nick was a loving husband and father, a kind and gentle man with a charming sense of humor. He had a vibrant faith and was given the spiritual gift of eloquent prayer, weaving his extensive knowledge of biblical truths with the language of a humble child speaking joyfully to his Heavenly Father. Nick was a prayer warrior for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an active member of the Christian Reformed Church and the Kalamazoo Christian Schools where he served several terms as a deacon, elder and school board member. Left to cherish his memory are his four children and their spouses: Jim (Laurie) Nieboer, Betty (Tom) Bultman, Ron Nieboer, and Steve (Joy) Nieboer; eight grandchildren, Jesse Nieboer, Leah Nieboer, Micah (Leah) Nieboer, Sam (Rachael) Bultman, David (Katie) Bultman, Annie Bultman, Josie (Chad) Niewoonder, and Grace Nieboer; eight great-grandchildren with three on the way. Also surviving are Nick's siblings Donna Johncock, Philip (Barb) Nieboer, Gert (Will) Nieboer, Mary (Bill) Greenfield and Howard (Deb) Nieboer; Ann's siblings Paula (Al) Nagel, Florence (Ron) Oosting, John (Beth) Apotheker, Gert Vandenberg, Frank Apotheker, Albert (Grace) Apotheker, Rea Schreuder, Jane (John) Schreuder, Hank (Carole) Apotheker, Arlene (John) Kiel and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his cherished wife, Ann; his beloved grandson Nicolas Robert Nieboer; his parents Jacob and Grace Nieboer, parents-in-law Kobe and Elizabeth Apotheker, brothers Jackie, Harold and Willard, sisters Marguerite Miersma and Esther Ring; brothers and sisters in-laws Fran (Harold) Nieboer, Calvin Miersma, Walter Ring, Norman Johncock, Henry Vandenberg, Paul Schreuder, and Kay (Frank) Apotheker. A funeral service honoring Nick's life will be held at Heritage Christian Reformed Church at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 20, 2024, preceded by visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at the Mt. Ever Rest Memorial Park South. Memorials in Nick's name can be given to Wycliffe Bible Translators or Heritage Christian Reformed Church.