Lorraine Nichols

Funeral Services: Will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 11:00 .m. at the First Baptist Church in Creston, Iowa with a luncheon immediately following the service at the church. Burial will be held at the Reno Methodist Cemetery on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Saturday, April 13th, one hour prior to services at the First Baptist Church in Creston, Iowa. 

Memorials: If you desire to give to a memorial gift, please make checks payable to BGFM and send to: Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission P.O. Box 355 Springfield, IL 62705.  Include a note stating “Lorraine Nichols Memorial”. You can also give electronically by going to: www.bgfmission.com and clicking the "memorial" button.

Lorraine Dorothy Nichols was born to Gustav and Hannah (Reichhold) LeGrand on September 27, 1925, at Willow Springs, IL.  She passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Lorraine trusted the Lord as her Savior at age 7.  While visiting her Dad’s Missions Class at Moody Bible Institute, at age 9, she heard God’s call for missionary service.  In 1947, she enrolled at Midwest Bible and Missionary Institute in St. Louis, MO (now Calvary University).

In 1949, she was married to Kendle M. Nichols in a double wedding with his sister Miriam & Douglas Langmade.  Lorraine graduated in 1950 and Kendle in 1952.  By this time, Bruce and Cheryl were born to them.

Afterwards, they served with the Northern Gospel Mission, in Orr, Minnesota for 4 years.  Tim was born during their service there.  Now they received God’s call for service in Brazil.

In 1956, they came to Iowa while on deputation for Brazil under the Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission.  Carol was born during this time.  Jonathan was born during their year of language study (in Fortaleza, Brazil), and Dawn was born in Iowa on their first furlough.  

They were members of Roberts Road Bible Church, founded by her father.  It became their sending church for 36 years in Brazil.  Upon retirement, they regularly attended First Baptist Church in Creston, Iowa.  Ministry continued with shut-ins, hospitals, care centers and homes.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kendle Nichols; sister, Violet LeGrand; brothers, Elmore, Clifford and Gustav LeGrand; sisters-in-law, Lorraine, Emma and Ruth LeGrand; mother and father-in-law, James Fletcher and Erma Nichols; brothers-in-law, James Ashley and Charles Nichols; sisters-in-law Carol Johnson and Margaret & Joan Nichols; son-in-law, Charles Yow; granddaughters, Hope Nichols and Elizabeth Giles; and ten grand and great grandchildren who died before birth.

She is survived by her children, Bruce (wife LeeAnn) of Salvador, Brazil, Cheryl Crady (husband Steve) of Oxford, Mississippi, Timothy of Cruz, Brazil, Carol Schilling (husband Richard) of Kansas City, MO., Jonathan (wife Chima) of Overland Park, KS., and Dawn Giles (husband Peter) of Holland, MI.; 30 grandchildren; 68 great grandchildren; 2 great, great grandchildren; 6 “adopted Brazilian children”, Lucia, Elda, Tereza, Joel, Daniel and Samuel and their families; and other relatives and friends.