Thomas Nicknish

THOMAS R. NICKNISH

Iowa City

Dr. Thomas R. Nicknish, 81, died June 17, 2016, at Mercy Iowa City, where he visited and tended to thousands of patients as an internist at Towncrest Internal Medicine from 1965 until he was called to serve in the U.S. Air Force for two years, serving at bases in Albany, Ga., and Cheyenne, Wyo.

A man of integrity and quiet confidence, he will be missed.

Dr. Nicknish was able to see patients and consult until shortly before his death. He was born in Utica, N.Y., on April 30, 1935, to parents Leroy Nicknish and Anita Hamsher Nicknish. Dr. Nicknish spent his childhood in Utica with siblings John (and Flo) Nicknish of Houston, Stephen (and Mary) Nicknish of Peru, N.Y., and Christine Nicknish (and Bob Winn) of Austin, Texas. He graduated from St. Francis, DeSales High School (1953), the University of Notre Dame (1957) and Georgetown University Medical School (1961).

Upon completion of his first year of medical school at Georgetown and Barbara Krage's graduation from Rosary College in River Forest, Ill., the two were married in Sioux City, Iowa. He and Barb moved to Washington, D.C., where he finished medical school in 1961.

Dr. Nicknish did a two-year internship at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., followed by a two-year residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Starting in March 1965, he began his medical career with Towncrest Internal Medicine. He served there faithfully for more than 50 years.

He served as chief of staff at Mercy Iowa City from 1986 to 1988 and was president of Towncrest Internal Medicine for many years.

Dr. Nicknish is survived by his wife, Barbara; children and spouses, Carolyn and Tom Ruse of Madison, Wis., Mary Nicknish and Ken Sandmann of San Francisco, Calif., Paul and Ann Nicknish of Davenport, Anita and Scot Hanson of Evergreen, Colo., Christopher and Kathy Nicknish of North Liberty, Tim and Roberta Nicknish of Centennial, Colo., Virginia and Erik Karlberg of Centennial, Colo., and Thomas and Amy Nicknish of Iowa City; 20 loving grandchildren, Melissa Jackson, Lauren Ruse, Michelle Ruse, Christopher Ruse, Stephen and Meg Nicknish, Paul Nicknish, Julian Sandmann, Christopher Nicknish Jr., Willis Hanson, Kayla Jackson, Molly Nicknish, Lily Nicknish, Monica Karlberg, Zachary Hanson, John Nicknish, Paige Nicknish, Julia Karlberg, Ava Nicknish and Charles Thomas Nicknish; and great grand-daughter, Tara Slichter.

Dr. Nicknish was preceded in death by his parents; son, John Stephen; brother, Stephen Nicknish; and granddaughter, Anita Jackson.

Dr. Nicknish lived a full life as the patriarch of the Nicknish clan. He enjoyed traveling with Barb to spend time with family around the country and playing many physical activities, such as tennis, handball, bird hunting, cross country skiing, bocce ball and many spirited games of corn bags. He also focused time on feeding his Baltimore orioles and hummingbirds at Lake Macbride and following any sport involving his alma mater, the Fighting Irish.

The family respectfully asks instead of flowers or plants, to please offer memorials to the SAVE St. Mary's Newport Church or to Mercy Hospice Care Unit.

A funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 24, at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City, where a vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Private burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Newport Township near Solon.

www.lensingfuneral.com