Ivan Forrest Nicodemus

Ivan, “Papa” as he was more recently known to family, was born on July 28,1949, to Ivan Nicodemus and Marilyn Miller in Elkhart, Indiana. In his youth, he traveled the country and world (including learning Portuguese during a memorable year in Brazil) attending twelve different schools before graduating from high school in Irving, Texas. He was a proud Eagle Scout having trekked through Philmont, canoed through boundary waters in Minnesota, and worked at the World Scout Jamboree in 1967 in Idaho. Weary from so much travel, Ivan stayed close to home attending Southern Methodist University. At SMU, Ivan was a member of Delta Chi and the Air Force ROTC. He met Anna Rebecca (“Becky”) Bangle and they were blessed with a wonderful friendship and courtship while on the SMU campus.

Ivan and Becky Bangle were married on November 20, 1970. After marriage and Ivan’s graduation, Ivan and Becky quickly transitioned into Air Force life. From 1972 to 1984, the family moved from Del Rio, Texas to Merced, California to Rome, New York to Mildenhall, England as Ivan flew tankers for the Strategic Air Command. The family enjoyed many adventures during these travels putting countless miles on a variety of station wagons. The family loved camping and Ivan camped with his boys while they were in Scouts, serving for a time as their Scoutmaster.

While stationed in England, Ivan earned a Masters Degree in Structural Engineering from Boston University as his professors were brought overseas to teach classes.

The family returned to Dallas to be close to friends and family following Ivan’s departure from the Air Force. Ivan worked as a civil engineer and project manager over the years having worked on projects associated with the Superconducting Supercollider, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. For a few years, Ivan worked everyday as he flew for Eastern Airlines while also working as an engineer. Ivan also volunteered at SMU as a resource for their engineering programs.

Ivan loved Becky and they really lived life. They traveled, they enjoyed their time together, and they set the example for everyone. They loved art, theater, and culture. They loved spending time with family and hosting events at their home. They particularly loved taking the whole family on trips for shared experiences. Ivan really enjoyed being a spouse on Becky’s work trips where he visited Air Museums all over the world, took a golf lesson from Hal Sutton, and enjoyed a semi-private concert from Michael McDonald.

For the last five years, Ivan visited graves of service members he knew to plant flags for Memorial Day.

When it came to his grandchildren, Ivan never missed a game, concert, dance recital, court of honor, or grandparent day. Ivan always showed up and always had a story to tell about their successes, dreams, and adventures.

He was devastated when Becky passed after fifty years of marriage and is no doubt at peace having finally reunited with her. Ivan was also preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Marilyn Nicodemus. Ivan is survived by his sister-in-law, Julie Bangle; his son and daughter-in-law Brian and Cynthia Nicodemus; his son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Elizabeth Nicodemus; and his beloved grandchildren Catherine, Grace, Russell, and Claire Nicodemus.

The family requests those who wish to make a Memorial Donation to give to the Anna Nicodemus Internal Audit Leadership Fellowship at The University of Texas at Dallas or a veteran’s service organization.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 6 at 5:00 p.m. at the Grove Hill Funeral Home, 3920 Samuell Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75228.

On Saturday, March 7 at 11:00 a.m., a funeral service will be held at Northaven United Methodist Church, 11211 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75230. A graveside service will follow at the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery in Midlothian, Texas.