Garth Nikolaus |
| Posted 2009-07-28 by Sharla |
| Garth was born and raised in Show Low where he lived all of his life. he attended Show Low Elementary School and Snowflake Union High School. After his junior year of high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Columbia, a light cruiser, in the South Pacific during WWII. During his service he was involved in eleven major battles. When he came home on leave in 1944 he married his high school sweetheart Alberta Penrod. After he completed his service they made their home in Show Low and began raising their family. Garth was gifted with many skills. He was an excellent carpenter and he built many homes in the Show Low area. He also worked for the Arizona Department of Transportation and retired as a Highway Maintenance Supervisor in 1986 after 22 years of service. After retirement he and Alberta lived in Apache Junction during the winter and worked in the Mesa Arizona Temple for several years. During his life Garth was a man of many talents. He played the guitar, the mandolin and the steel guitar, and he had a band called "the Westernairs". They played for dances and many other occasions all over the state. He shared his talents and taught many others to play the guitar. He made picture frames out of old barn lumber and they are seen all over the country. Garth loved the outdoors and he was a great camp cook. He did Dutch oven cooking with the family on many occasions all around the state. Garth also enjoyed being a cowboy and rode horseback on cattle round-ups with family and other ranchers in the area. He rode all over the White Mountains. He was noted for his ability to break in and train horses. When he was 73 years old Garth and Alberta were called on an 18-month mission to historical Nauvoo, Illinois for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved serving there and meeting people from all over the world. After their mission they returned home to Show Low and have loved just being with children and grandchildren, their special love. Garth is survived by his wife, Alberta Nikolaus of Show Low; three daughters, Sandra (David) Decker of Snowflake; Gail (Gary) Butler and Denise (Mike) Polley, both of Show Low; two sons, Brad (Debbie) Nikolaus of Mesa and Lance W. Nikolaus of Show Low; one brother F. Leland Nikolaus of Show Low; 24 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren (Bio from White Mountain Independent Online Edition) See Also: Find A Grave |
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