Nicole Thing

NICOLE THING

Cedar Rapids

Nicole LeAnn Thing, 20, of Cedar Rapids, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014. Funeral Mass: noon Thursday at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Burial at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and after 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Survivors include her parents, Anne Thing of Cedar Rapids and Jeff Thing of Hiawatha; her boyfriend, Reid Johannsen of Dubuque; her sister, Jessica of Cedar Rapids; her brother, Andrew of Chicago; grandmothers, Bobbie Gruber of Cedar Rapids and Margaret Thing of Springville; aunts and uncles, Jim and Janell Gruber of St. Cloud, Minn., Jennifer and David Mayer of Urbana, Mike Gruber of Pella and Julie and Gary Kline of Williamsburg; and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Kenneth Joseph Gruber and Curtis William Thing.

Nicole was born Aug. 6, 1994, in Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Xavier High School in 2013. Nicole was currently a second-year nursing student at Clarke University in Dubuque with a passion for helping people.

Her passion can be seen even in her passing, as she was an organ donor. She will help over 100 people with her donation. Nicole was loved by all of her friends and family and made a lasting impact on everyone she met.

Nicole recently posted this quote for those of us who need a little inspiration:

"Follow your dream wherever it leads. Don't be distracted by less worthy needs. Shelter it, nourish it. Help it grow down deep where dreams go. Follow your dream, pursue it with haste. Life is too precious, too fleeting to waste. Be faithful, be loyal then all your life, the dream that you follow will keep coming true."

– Anonymous.

A memorial fund has been established.

Please leave a message or tribute to Nicole's family on the Website, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.