William E. Nichols, Jr.

William E. Nichols Jr., 78, of South Bend, IN passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in his home. William, affectionately known as Bill, was born on March 20, 1948, in South Bend to William E. Nichols, Sr. who served as a Corporal in the United States Army during World War II, and Helen A. (Pankiewicz) Nichols, who retired from Meijer and worked for Mobilecraft in Elkhart, IN. Bill retired from his job at Indiana University South Bend, where he enjoyed custodial work for many years. He was preceded in death by his father, who passed on December 14, 1983, and his mother, who passed on April 18, 2007. While Bill did not have siblings, he is survived by several cousins who fondly recall looking forward to receiving his Christmas cards each year, signed “Your Cousin, Bill.” It was made known that Bill also kept and thoughtfully displayed the cards he received around his home throughout the year. Bill, a gentle man who led a simple life, attended family functions such as graduation parties and, while he usually sat quietly observing the activity, he could be heard happily talking about his favorite team, Notre Dame. Bill also loved to share the weather updates. A graveside Rite of Committal will be performed at Riverview Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2026.  Bill was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William E. Nichols, Jr., please visit our floral store.