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KEVIN McNICHOLAS Obituary

Kevin Patrick McNicholas, age 87, of St. Charles died Tuesday, April 13, 2010. He was born Dec. 18, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to Patrick and Mary Anne (nee Roach) McNichols. The ninth born of immigrants of County Mayo in Ireland. Kevin was young when his father died. Life in Bridgeport on the Southside of Chicago was tough. World War II began six months after Kevin graduated from St. Rita High School and he enlisted as a Navy SeaBee and shipped off to Guadalcanal. He and his brothers all survived the war and Kevin returned to Chicago where be met his wife, Noreen Kempen and married in 1950. After working for the Chicago Park District Police, Kevin started a plumbing business. He had apprenticed as a lead burner and the company also did sewer work. Kevin and Noreen raised five children on Chicago's Southwest side and they remained South Siders until 1999 when they moved to St. Charles. Kevin was a gifted story teller and he always had a joke to share and an offer of a drink to anyone who would listen. His gift of gab made him many friends. He is survived by five children, Kevin, Jr. (Phyllis), Michael (Cindy), Shawn (Bill) Kruzan, Mark (Colleen) and Michelle McNicholas, fifteen grandchildren, Kevin, III, Sean, Brynn, Connor, Lindsay, Brynn, Ryan, Dan and Amy McNicholas, Rachel and Jessica Kruzan, Brianne (Frank) Straka, Bridget and Caitlin, Maggie, and a great-grandson, Dylan Straka. He was preceded in death by his wife, Noreen Kempen in 2000, his parents and nine siblings, Agnes, May, Margaret, Helen, Gertrude, John, James, Edward and youngest Donald. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 17 at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 West State Street, (Rt. 38), Geneva. Interment will be private at St. Mary's Cemetery, Evergreen Park. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Saint Rita of Cascia High School, 7740 South Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60620. For information, call Yurs Funeral Home of St. Charles, 630-584-0060 or at www.yursfuneralhomes.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Tribune on Apr. 15, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for KEVIN McNICHOLAS

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Steve Thompson III

December 18, 2022

Kevin, today would be your 100th birthday, I will be thinking of you all day and will raise a glass to you tonight. You were such a great friend to me and my family and a great companion to my grandmother. You had such great stories and jokes, and were so nice and helpful. You were/are a true original. I miss you Kevin. God Bless You.

Tim Knorring

October 27, 2010

Kevin was a great neighbor and friend to my parents in their last years while living in St. Charles. He was always willing to help them out whenever they needed help. After my mother's passing he provided friendship to my dad when he most needed it. They spent hours recalling their Navy stories. He will be missed. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family.
Tim Knorring

April 16, 2010

My wife has known Kevin longer, but in the thirty years I have known him, no room was ever quiet, no glass was ever empty, and no face was without a smile... a legacy anyone would be happy to leave. We will miss your energy, Kevin. Our hearts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
Neil, Anita and The Houtsma Family

Marion & John Lynch (Wallis)

April 16, 2010

Our sincere condolences to all the McNicholas Families. It was such a joy growing up and knowing your dad all these years. He always had a kind word, smile, joke, or laugh. He will be missed by many but reunited with your wonderful mom, Noreen and all his siblings. May memories comfort all of you as you celebrate his life, and the days ahead. Love & prayers with all of you. God Bless.

Mike farrell

April 16, 2010

To the Survivors:

Kevin McNicholas was my uncle by blood and my great friend by appreciation. He was quite serious and wise when it came to entertaining everyone, because he knew that he had a gift, and he knew that gifts are supposed to be shared. Along the way, God love him, he made himself laugh, and that’s when he was at his funniest…when he was enjoying the joke too. Oh, how we will all miss him. Oh, what wonderful company he was.

To My Pal:

Sometime soon (but not today), I’ll make my way to the public house to tell a lot of the sensational jokes and great stories you taught me. We’ll have a fill of fun, Uncle, and I promise to get ‘em all laughin’ real good before I tell ‘em. After that, if you don’t mind, I’ll just go home…and cry like a baby.

My Best to the McNicholas family,
Mike Farrell

April 16, 2010

Please note the obituary funeral time is incorrect the service will begin at noon. Sorry for this inconvenience...

Shawn McNicholas Kruzan

Julie Miller

April 16, 2010

Kevin Jr. & the entire McNicholas family: I met Mr. McNicholas at one of Brynn & Lindsay's basketball games and he gave me a 'hard time' about the "Mr. McNicholas". You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I will will say an extra prayer at church on Sunday.

Jim & Janet Glynn

April 15, 2010

To my friend Mark and the entire McNicholas family: I was sorry to learn of your father's passing. He always made me laugh whenever I came by your house to drive back to NIU and made my wife Janet feel special because they shared a birthday. We will remember him fondly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Ellen Anderson

April 15, 2010

I had to smile when I read the 'favorite' niece story...he must have used that on all us girls, from both sides of the family. Uncle Kevin I sure do remember the times you and my father would take us bowling...you'd get your 'pop' and we'd get ours!

April 15, 2010

My deepest condolences to the family of my life long friend, Kevin Patrick. We grew up across the street from each other on Oakley Ave. He was 3339 and I was 3328. There are so many stories that could be told which we laughed about but now bring tears to my eyes.

God love all of his family and, of course, my friend, Kevin

Tom "Bro" Finnegan

Maureen McMahon

April 15, 2010

Kevin was lots of fun to be around. As a kid growing up with the entire family he had a special passion for the Queen of the Universe neighborhood. I remember fondly him calling out my Dad, Ray Nelligan, after a few pops and on his bike. Never a dull moment. I ran into Kevin at the downtown St. Pats parade about 5 years ago coming off the plumber's trolley because of a much needed bathroom break. Still lots of fun even though the years had past, Kevin never missed an event or party. I send my deepest sympathies to the entire McNicholas family. I will be there in spirit on Saturday I will be out of town. God bless. Maureen "Nelligan" McMahon

Kevin Wallis

April 15, 2010

Our condolences to the McNicholas family on Kevin's passing. He has been a dear friend of the family and we'll remember him with great fondness.
The Wallis Family

Colleen Farrell

April 15, 2010

I lit a candle today in St. Michael's Church in Limerick, Ireland in honor of Kevin McNicholas. I was very sad to hear about his passing, my deepest sympathies to The McNicholas Family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Beau Farrell

April 15, 2010

We are so sad to hear of Uncle Kevin's passing. He was such a funny guy! We will miss him very much. Your are all in our thoughts and prayers! Beau & Chrsitie Farrell

Noreen (Gavin) Colgan

April 15, 2010

As long as I can remember--(being one of the elder cousins, this has been a very long time)--Uncle Kevin was always going to announce the name of his 'favorite' niece. Did any of us ever hear tell the final answer or will it remain his secret.
Uncle Kevin will be remembered and loved by many. He and the family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the stories, the laughs and especially, thanks for the memories!!!

Jerry Farrell

April 15, 2010

Kevin McNicholas was my uncle and I loved him very much. I could always count on him. He taught us about life, love, family and loyalty by his example as a man, a husband and a father. He taught us about life by his true understanding of the human condition. He learned the importance of laughter and throughout his life he became the greatest storyteller ever. He could brighten a room with his charm and his wit. He lifted our spirits by teaching us to laugh at ourselves My family is so grateful to have had Uncle Kevin in our lives. We will miss him and we will treasure his memory because he was without a doubt a tremendous treasure.
My thoughts are with my cousins and their families today .

Love ya,
Jerry , Holly, Liz and Casey Farrell

Marty Farrell

April 15, 2010

Uncle Kevin was my favorite uncle. I chose him as my sponsor for Confirmation and we have stayed in touch all these years. He loved life and he loved to laugh. I have a picture of Kevin doing a standup comedy routine on a cruise ship hung above my sump pump (he told me he was the patron saint of plumbing) He took first prize and won a trophy. My wife had a surprise 50th Birthday party for me and Kevin attended. He gave me that trophy and it is one of my most cherished possessions. Although we mourn his passing, we should celebrate his long and productive life. He was the last of an era of Macs that should never be forgotten. They all helped make us who we are. God's speed Uncle. My thoughts and prayers are with my friends and relatives in the McNicholas Family.

April 15, 2010

Our condolences to the entire family.We can take comfort in the fact that he had a long rich life that left us all with many happy memories.
The Jack Farrell Family

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