Dan J. Nicholson, Jr. was born in Lakeland, Florida on January 29th, 1931 and passed away in Ocoee, Florida on November 24th, 2018. Dan enlisted in the Army in January, 1949 and married Sara Nicholson (nee: Bradshaw) in June, 1950 in Lakeland, Florida. During his time in the service, Dan fought in the Korean War and was wounded in Wonju, Korea on February 12th, 1951. After 18 months of being hospitalized in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Dan was honorably discharged. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, US National Defense Metal, Metal of Good Conduct, Korean National Defense Metal, and three Battle Stars. For most of his working life, Dan was a Service and Parts Manager from which he retired in 1984.
After his retirement, Dan attended Seminole Junior College and later became a Locksmith. He loved woodworking and making wooden gifts, construction, and auto mechanics. Dan served as a Deacon at Pine Hills Church of Christ, and volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 227. Along with his wife, he traveled most of the US and Canada; camping in state parks and staying at local motels. An avid fisherman, and hunter, who loved air boating; Dan and his wife were inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2002.
Dan is lovingly survived by his wife Sara Nicholson, children Danny Herman (Jennifer), Barry Wayne, Sandra Leigh (Jerry Thompson), grandchildren Veronica Nicholson, Hillary Nicholson, Candace Nicholson, step-grandsons Sean, Todd, and Ryan, and two great-grandchildren Colton Szorcsik and Emreigh Tyson.
