LeRoy "Lee" William Nickila

Lee Nickila, son of William and Hilda Nickila, was born in Genoa, Minnesota. He spent his childhood years playing ice hockey on the frozen lakes in the winter, swimming in and fishing those same lakes in the summer. He also enjoyed music and played coronet in the high school band. After graduating from high school the family moved to the Portland/Vancouver area where he joined the army as an aviation cadet and then a second lieutenant. He loved flying.

Upon leaving the military he married Marion Roth in 1947. They remained married until her passing in 1995. Together they worked multiple jobs to put Lee through Western States Chiropractic College. Dr. Nickila's first practice was in Clatskanie before moving to Salem in 1960. He loved his profession and found great joy in helping others until he retired in 1980. In 2000 he was blessed to meet and marry Estelle Byrd and they had 10 happy years together.

He is survived by son, Stephen Nickila; daughters, Sharon Quiring and Joanne Pfau of Salem; grandson, Adam Newell; granddaughters, Rachael Boehm, Jaimi Krenz, Chelsie Kuebler, Lindsey Sandelin and Carli Pfau; and great-grandson, Brayden Boehm. His first born daughter, Diana Newell of Leavenworth, Washington, passed in 2007. He was loved by many and will be missed greatly.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, at the New Harvest Baptist Church in Salem. Contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association and Willamette Valley Hospice. Arrangements are by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home.