Jerry (Gerald) Nichols Obituary Jerry (Gerald) Nichols, 87, of Meridian was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Feb 22, 2023. Jerry was born in Pulaski, Wisconsin, on July 4, 1935, to Carroll and Pearl Nichols. He was the oldest of three children. He grew up in Wisconsin and Illinois. Jerry attended Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, Illinois, where he met his lifelong love, Dorine Nichols, daughter of Walter & Mildred Nichols. Sweethearts for over 70 years, they married with the same last name, but were not related. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on June 18, 2022. Jerrys Christian faith was an essential part of his life. His relationship and love for our Heavenly Father were paramount to him, always making family time spent at church and church activities a priority. In his younger years, Jerry was an insurance agent and manager, then went into the construction field. He became very knowledgeable in many areas of construction, later serving as Chairman of the Home Builders Association and Chairman of Canyon County Planning and Zoning. In 1985 he and Dorine bought The Dutch Inn Restaurant in Nampa and Jerry built a new, larger Dutch Inn in 1992. They owned the restaurants for a total of 15 years. Jerry enjoyed people, laughing, and telling jokes and loved the relationships that were built. In 2000, Jerry and Dorine retired and began many years of volunteer work on churches across the US and Trinity Pines. They traveled extensively in their motorhome donating construction knowledge and time. Jerry was also an avid outdoorsman, sharing his time, knowledge, and love of it freely. He placed a high priority on camping, fishing, hunting and motorcycle riding adventures with family and friends. Jerry fought Alzheimer's disease for several years and was cared for by his loving wife, Dorine. He is also survived by his children, Gail & Larry Astley, Carla & Andy Ward, Jan Powell, Bob Nichols & Jean Hilton, Lydia & Shane Dixon, and Robert & JoAnn Nichols (IN). They have 18 grandchildren plus spouses, 32 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and his brother, Chuck Nichols in Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Edith. A brief celebration of life will be held at College Church of the Nazarene, 504 E Dewey Ave, Nampa, on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be made to the Trinity Pines Camp, 55 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 100, Meridian, ID 83642.. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com Services Celebration of Life Monday March 6, 2023 11:00 AM Nampa College Church 504 E. Dewey Ave Nampa, ID 83686