MILLINOCKET – Robert John Nicholson, 57, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, at home, after a long illness. He was born March 16, 1950, at Eastern Maine General Hospital, Bangor, the son of John Daniel and Barbara (Ames) Nicholson. Bob grew up in Millinocket, graduated from Stearns High School, Class of 1968 and attended Unity College where he studied forestry. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Upon his naval discharge in San Diego, he drove across the country, returning to Millinocket to work at Great Northern Paper’s No. 11 paper machine, where he was a member of the United Papermaker International Union. In his 20s and 30s, he traveled round-trip to Florida on his Harley Davidson sportster. Bob was a highly adept downhill skier, from the first time he strapped on a pair of skis in high school to skiing the mountains in New England and Colorado. Bob’s true love was hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. An outdoorsman from an early age, he enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. He knew his way around the Great North Woods without a compass and enjoyed fishing in very remote ponds throughout his lifetime. He kept canoes and boats throughout the North Woods for these fishing expeditions and freely allowed others to use them. He didn’t mind driving for hours for the opportunity to walk through the North Maine Woods to get to his favorite fishing spots. Eventually he earned his pilot’s license, and flew a float plane into these remote areas, always sharing his prize catches with family and friends. Bob is survived by his mother, Barbara; three children, Cortney and her husband, John Klemperer, M.D., of Hampden, Steven Nicholson of Millinocket, and Anthony Dickinson of Bangor; a granddaughter, Kate Klemperer; sisters, Gaile Nicholson of Patten, and Jane Arsenault and her husband, Paul, of Portland; a brother, Jim Nicholson of Millinocket; nephews, Tyler and Ryan Arsenault of Portland; aunts and uncles, Sarah and John Lombard, Edward and Audie Ames, Dorothy Krajnak, Jean Nicholson; and 21 cousins throughout Maine, New Jersey, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and France. Bob was predeceased by his father, John “Jack” Nicholson; grandparents, Ivan and Frances Bart-lett Ames of Millinocket and Orono, John “Jack” and Hazel Flannery Nicholson; and an uncle, William “Bill” Nicholson. Friends are invited to visit with the family 5-7 p.m. Friday at Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack St., Millinocket, where a memorial service in Bob’s honor will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, with the Rev. Carolyn Bradley officiating. If friends wish to remember Bob in a special way, they are encouraged to take a child fishing or make a contribution in his memory to First Congregational Church, 274 Katahdin Ave., Millinocket, ME 04462 or Millinocket Regional Hospital Memorial Fund, 200 Somerset St., Millinocket, ME 04462. Messages of condolence to the family may be expressed at www.lamsonfh.com.
ROBERT JOHN NICHOLSON
