Daynor Nickoli (Nick) Tharalson III

Daynor Nickoli (Nick) Tharalson III

Marion

Nick Tharalson, 82, of Marion, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his home on November 27, 2025, of natural causes.

Born August 31, 1943, in Blue Earth, Minnesota, Nick was the son of Daynor and Carmen (Root) Tharalson. On June 11, 1971, he married Dorothy L. LaFortune, with whom he shared many cherished years until her passing on January 15, 2004.

Nick’s voice was familiar to many as “Nick Thomas,” also known as The Nighthawk, during his career as a radio broadcaster with KHAK. Beyond the airwaves, he was a devoted social dancer who loved the two-step and country dancing. Later in life, he served his community as a rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

A fixture at the Marion Public Library, Nick delighted in crossword puzzles and enjoyed sharing his answers with fellow patrons. He was also known for his daily walks around Marion and his dream of publishing a fiction novel, a goal he pursued through drafts and collaborations with local authors, often during dinners at Scott’s restaurant.

Nick’s greatest passion was railroads. Though he never worked on the railroad, he was a dedicated rail photographer, historian, and traveler. He regularly presented programs for the Cedar Rapids Area Railfan Association. He was deeply involved with the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society, attending annual meetings across the country. He found joy in visiting and operating model railroad layouts throughout the Midwest.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents, Daynor and Carmen, and his wife, Dorothy. He is survived by his sister Kathy Higa (Hutto, Texas); sister-in-law Donna LaFortune; cousins Linda Holvik (Phil Tetzloff) of Marshalltown and Karen Holvik of Cedar Falls; nephews David Higa of Los Angeles, Rob Walz of San Antonio, Texas, Rich (Amy) Eiss and Greg Eiss of Minnesota, and Shane (Brandy) Nisbet of Kentucky; nieces Jennifer Higa-Mitchell of Hutto, Texas, and Dawn (Joe) Dewey of Oelwein.

A celebration of Nick’s life will be held in the spring of 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Marion Public Library, a place that brought him daily joy.