Richard Thaddeus Nichols

Richard “Mad Dog” Thaddeus Nichols, age 77, passed away peacefully the evening of June 4, 2024.  Mad Dog was born on February 5, 1947, to Lloyd and Lola (Huebner) Nichols in Neenah, WI. In 1966, he graduated from Menasha High School after which he wanted to serve his country in Vietnam-he was never allowed to do so due to having Polio as a child. He then enrolled at Fox Valley Tech where he received an AA in Mechanical/Electrical Technologies. On May 16, 1970, Mad Dog married Nancy Jochman and the two proceeded to have two children whom they raised in Menasha.

He began work at Allis Chalmers where he worked as a Quality Control and Calibration Tech for 29 years. When that company closed, Mad Dog stayed true to his nickname and was a fearless advocate for his clients as a job coach at Valley Packaging. 

Mad Dog was an electronics and mechanical “nut” and throughout the lives of his children, kept them well-stocked in electronics and video game consoles.  An avid outdoorsman, he loved spending time on the land with his son and friends hunting deer, camping, fishing or just spending time at the campfire telling stories. 

Mad Dog loved Diet Pepsi and beef jerky (or turkey jerky for that matter).  He enjoyed hanging out on the couch watching old John Wayne and Clint Eastwood westerns. Socializing with his buddies always included Sheepshead, Cribbage and Poker. He frequented local watering holes and was sort of the “Norm” of locations like 3rd Street Diner, The Old Grog, Bubba’s Pub and Beck’s Home Plate.

Mad Dog is survived by his loving children Jeffrey (Rebecca) Nichols, and Lori (Eric) Bauman; grandchildren: Ava, Carl, Isabella, and Alexa. In addition, he is survived by his siblings: Tim (special friend Janie Stevenson) Nichols, Mark (Mardell) Nichols, Kirk (Sandy) Nichols, Chris (Terry) Nichols, Mary Nichols and Sue (Don) Butler; and brothers-in-law: Dave Williamsen and John Duvall as well as many other friends and family.

He was reunited after 30 years of longing, with the love of his life Nancy. In addition, he was preceded in passing by his parents; and his sisters Joan Williamsen and Lynn Duvall.

A funeral service will take place on Saturday June 8, 2024, at 11:00am at Wichmann Funeral Home-Laemmrich Chapel, 312 Milwaukee Street, Menasha. Friends and family may gather at the funeral home from 9:00am until the service begins. Following cremation, Mad Dog will be laid to rest next to Nancy at St Mary’s Cemetery, Menasha.