Nolan Biglane

Nolan E. Biglane

Natchez

Services for Noland Edward Biglane, 95, who died at home in Natchez, Mississippi, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, April 28, at Saint Mary Basilica with the Reverend David O'Connor officiating at the Mass of the Resurrection. Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation at Saint Mary Basilica was held Monday, April 27, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and Tuesday, April 28, from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

Mr. Biglane was born in Covington County, Mississippi, to Michael K. Biglane and Mary Margaret Speed Biglane. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1941 and was honorably discharged in 1945. In 1948 he moved to Natchez with his wife, the late, Dorothy Steen Biglane. He co-owned Tops Restaurant and Grill with brother-in-law, Joe Francis and later was its sole owner as well as being part owner of the Prentiss Motel. He also was co-owner of Big Joe Oil Company, Big Joe Operating Company and Big Joe Real Estate with longtime friend and business partner, Joe Fortunato.

Mr. Biglane served on the Board of Directors of Jefferson Davis Memorial Hospital, the AHEAD program for the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. He received the honorable Wildcat Award, which was presented to Big-Joe Oil Company by the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, Alabama/Mississippi Division. In addition, he served as President of the Cathedral School Athletic Association, was a member of the Mississippi Home Builders Association, was a long-time contributor to the Miss-Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame and received its Contribution to Amateur Football Award. He also was among the early organizers and promoters of YMCA Baseball in Natchez. As a Veteran of World War II, he participated in the Gulf Coast Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., on October 1, 2013. He was a dedicated member of St. Mary Basilica.

Above all, Mr. Biglane was a hard worker who was devoted to his family. He loved having his family members around him and his constant concern was for them to "be happy." He provided a college education for all eight of his children, seven of whom graduated from Mississippi State University. He was kind, generous and treated everyone fairly.

Noland Biglane was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Steen Biglane; his parents; two brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include eight children and their spouses: Linda Biglane Pieklik and husband, John of Jackson, Mississippi, Freddie Biglane and wife, Jean of Natchez, Judy Biglane Marchesini and husband, Claude of Greenville, Mississippi, Mike Biglane of Pass Christian, Mississippi; Kay Biglane Taylor and husband, John of Natchez, Pat Biglane and wife, Karen of Vidalia, Louisiana, Nancy Biglane Kuehnle and husband, Bruce of Natchez and Mary Jane Biglane Dahlander and husband, Gerry of Dallas, Texas.

Survivors also include grandchildren, Stephen Pieklik and wife, Shelley of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alex Pieklik of Jackson, Derick Biglane and wife, Lisa of Hernando, Mississippi; Rebecca Biglane Black and husband, David of Dallas, Texas, Barr Biglane and wife, Paige of Jackson, Mississippi, John Noland Marchesini of Los Angeles, California, Kathryn Marchesini of Arlington, Virginia and fiance, Jonathan Slack of Sanford, North Carolina, Megan Marchesini Napier and husband, Stephen of New York, New York, Lauren Biglane Middleton and husband, Wes of Natchez, Presley Taylor Jennings and husband, John of Jackson, Wyoming, John Hunter Taylor of Hernando, Mississippi, Pepper Taylor of Natchez, Joanna Biglane McNeel and husband, Jason of Madison, Mississippi; Patrick Biglane and wife, Melinda of Pensacola, Florida, Julia Rachel Kuehnle of Natchez and Katherine Dahlander, Mary Margaret Dahlander, and Emily Dahlander of Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Biglane also is survived by great-grandchildren Dottie, Lucille and Charlie Pieklik, Beau and Ali Biglane; Avery and Barron Black, Jake and Adele Middleton, Connor McNeel, Jett and Grace Anne Biglane and step great-grandchildren, Kyle and Lindsay Jennings and by a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Derick Biglane, John Noland Marchesini, Stephen Pieklik, Barr Biglane, Alex Pieklik, Patrick Biglane, John Hunter Taylor and Beau Biglane. Honorary pallbearers will be James Biglane, Joe Fortunato, Phil Vasser and Dr. Bruce Kuehnle.

The family of Noland Biglane expresses its gratitude to Dr. Lee England and to the staff of Natchez Regional Medical Center, Magnolia Village, and Promise Hospital and extends its deep appreciation to caregivers Marguerite Green, Joann Williams, Shirley Sherman, Patricia Johnson, Wortha Woods and Janie Murphy.

Memorials may be made to Cathedral School Development Foundation, 107 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, Natchez, Mississippi 39120 or to St. Mary Basilica, Post Office Box 1044, Natchez, Mississippi 39121.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com