"Junior"

Leo Bertram Nichols Jr., 95, of Canton, Missouri, passed away at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois at 5:00 am, Sunday, August 16, 2026.

Leo was born on September 15, 1930, in Williamstown, Missouri to Leo Bertram Sr. and Helen Margaret (Carlin) Nichols. In 1949 he was a proud graduate of Williamstown High School. From high school he served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He was united in marriage to Catherine Maxine (Uhlmeyer) Nichols on September 5, 1953, in St. Patrick, Missouri and she survives. Junior was a hard working and dedicated employee. He worked at Gardner-Denver, in LaGrange, MO, retiring after 32 years with the company.

People said he had “pretty blue eyes and always smiled.” Of all the jobs he had he liked working on the barge (dredging). He loved his family. Maxine was his “best friend”. He enjoyed living on the farm. He farmed and mowed for as long as he was able. In later years he and Maxine enjoyed watching the hummingbirds outside their living room window. Going to the Ozarks with family and staying together in a condo became a yearly event the past few years. Playing bunco was also enjoyable. Leo loved tinkering with things, fixing things and building things. Nothing could be thrown away because he could fix it when no one else could. He fixed things for others. He enjoyed genealogy, collecting obituaries of people he knew. His Alexa kept him up-to-date with weather and news. He and Maxine could face time with family members.

Leo “Junior” Nichols is survived by his wife of 72 years, his son John (Pat) Nichols of Godfrey, IL, his daughters Carol Huston of Canton, MO, Margie (Steve) Lynn of Lewistown, MO, Juli (Dave Stock) Clark of Beardstown, IL, Lori Winters of Liberty, MO, Jeanne (Rod) Leighty of Carthage, IL, 16 grandchildren Skylar Nichols, Shane Nichols, Michael (Jacob) Huston-Lowery, Stephen Huston, Sara (Jim) Oakley, Daniel (Kristen) Lynn, Sandy (Zach Gilmore) Clark, Patrick Clark, John (Sam) Ramey-Clark, Kylin (Ray) Merschbrock, Lana (Ryan Robinson) Winters, CeCe Leighty, Jennifer Nichols, Cathy (Brian) Day, Amanda and Wendy Nichols, several great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Dorothy Knickrehm of Walcott, IA, Nancy Uhlmeyer of Alexandria, MO, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sons Stephen, Ronald, Kevin, Patrick, and Michael Nichols, sons-in-law Kyle Winters, Earl Huston, a sister Mable Cain, his brothers Claude Nichols, Norman Nichols, brother and sisters-in-law Kendrick Cain, John Knickrehm, Ken (Rovene) Uhlmeyer, Rosemary Uhlmeyer, Anna (Larry) Logsdon, Barb Uhlmeyer, Ervin Uhlmeyer, and Alma (Sam) Wiskirchen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:00 am at Shrine of St Patrick Church, St Patrick, Missouri. Father Rob Fields Presiding. Burial will follow at the St Patrick Cemetery with full military rites accorded by the American Legion Post #192, VFW Post 4342, and Army Guard. Visitation with family present will be held at the Shrine of St Patrick Church from 10:00 am until time of service at 11:00 am. A Rosary will be held at 9:45 before the visitation.

Memorials in memory of Leo "Junior" Bertram Nichols Jr. are suggested to the Local Cancer Fund or American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.wilsonmckinnon.com