Charles ‘Chart’ F. Nicholson, age 89, of Tryon, passed away Friday, March 11th at his home. He was born October 7, 1926 in Sutherland to Arthur and Alma (Arensdorf) Nicholson. He grew up in the Southwest corner of McPherson County. At a young age he went to work on a harvesting crew. In 1945, he entered the U.S. Army, serving in Japan as an M.P. After his discharge from the Army he returned home where he farmed and ranched. On March 4, 1950 he married Wilma Neal in Stapleton. The couple continued ranching then moved to Oregon. They later returned to Nebraska and ran a café in Sutherland. Chart was a jack of all trades. He trucked, did some carpentry, worked as a janitor at the high school, and was an excellent craftsman. In 1969 he went to work for the UPRR in the signal department. He retired from the railroad on January 1, 1990. He then bought the Longhorn Motel in Tryon and ran that for many years. Chart and Wilma enjoyed their retirement, traveling all over the country and seeing every state except Hawaii. He was a member of the Tryon United Methodist Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing and his family was the center of his life, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include four daughters, Sandra Black of Tryon, Shareen (Stanley) Munson of Tryon, DeAnna (Bill) Kramer of North Platte, and Brenda (Jess) Cochran of Tryon; a sister, Ruth McNeal of Fort Collins, CO.; a brother, Don Nicholson of North Platte; a sister-in-law, Wilma Neal of North Platte; 12 grandchildren, Tylene (Gale) Garner of Tryon, Toby (Julie) Black of Morrill, Tammy (Kevin) May of Brady, Todd (Chris) Black of Moreno, CO., Bill (Lori) Munson of North Platte, Jason (Mikki) Munson of Cheyenne, WY., Jody (Megan) Munson of Tuscon, AZ, Darrin (Angie) Arthur, Phil (Laura) Masters of North Platte, Angela (Donald) McDermott of North Platte, Joseph (Emily) Cochran of Sioux Falls, SD., and Benjamin (Bailey) Cochran of Tryon; 30 great grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; many other family member and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Wilma; a son, Dick; great granddaughter, Emmalee Garner; siblings Myrtle Miller and Robert Nicholson.
A memorial has been established in his name to the Tryon United Methodist Church or Great Plains Hospice and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at the Tryon Methodist Church with the Pastor Shanon Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Cemetery with military honors graveside. Visitation will be 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Monday and Tuesday, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is entrusted with arrangements.