John V Nikula

John Nikula, 83, passed away June 10, 2019. Born and raised in Fitchburg, MA he was the son of the late John and Ida (Moisio) Nikula and brother of the late Peter Nikula. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth “Betsy” (Janes) Nikula of Sudbury, and the loving father of four children and their spouses: John Nikula, Jr., Tim Nikula and his wife Allie Gill, Johannah Nikula, and Will Nikula and his wife Jen. He was the proud grandfather of Finn, Kalle, Rowan, Tenley, and Beckham. After high school, John attended Tufts University and Boston University, where he earned his Master’s Degree. He worked as a civilian scientist for the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, while he and Betsy raised their family in Sudbury. They lived in the same house for 51 years! He was an avid and highly skilled bridge player (Silver Life Master), and it was at a duplicate bridge game where he and Betsy first met. His other hobbies included playing cards and games, reading, particularly alternative history, and walking around Sudbury and on the beach in Naples Florida, where he and Betsy spent their winters together. His summers were spent with family at their summer camp in Westminster and John would arrange his work schedule so that he could spend afternoons pulling the neighborhood kids waterskiing behind his boat. After coaching his children in youth soccer, John was on the Boston Area Youth Soccer Board for 25 years, serving as president for several of those years. John was involved in Boy Scouting for over 20 years, with his sons’ troops in Sudbury, and as an Assistant District Commissioner for Knox Trail Council where he received a Silver Beaver, the highest volunteer award bestowed by a Boy Scout Council. He was heavily involved in committee work at the Memorial Congregational Church of Sudbury, as a deacon, member of the trustees, gifts and memorials, outreach and personnel committees, and served as a delegate to the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. John served for 8 years on the town of Sudbury Finance Committee, volunteered at many tournaments for the Destination Imagination program, and more recently he volunteered for the Senior Center by picking up left over baked goods donated by local supermarkets. Above all, John enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren at home or abroad in places like Moscow and Paris. In later years he traveled with Betsy to Finland, where his parents were born, and took a river cruise on the Danube as part of their 50th anniversary celebration. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 20 at 11 a.m. at Memorial Congregational Church, 26 Concord Road, Sudbury. There will be an informal calling hour preceding the service from 10-11 and a lunch reception immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Memorial Congregational Church of Sudbury.