John Stephen Nicola

John Stephen Nicola, 71, Bismarck, passed away September 12, 2018, at home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, September 21, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Cremation has taken place. John was born July 3, 1947, in Bismarck, ND, the son of Lynn and Alyce (Brown) Nicola. He was raised in Bismarck where he graduated from Bismarck High School in 1965. Following graduation, John moved to Denver where he worked as a booking agent in the music industry and was proud to have worked with such notable artists as, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Jeff Walker, among others. He later moved home to Bismarck and worked with his father in the real estate and development business. In the mid-80s, John moved back to Colorado to fulfill a dream of having a gift shop in the ski resort town of Breckenridge. After selling the gift shop he managed a box factory that employed the handicapped. Following the birth of John’s two sons, Andrew and Christopher, he moved his family back home to Bismarck to raise his sons in his hometown. John loved to boat, hunt pheasants and waterfowl with his boys, another perk of raising his sons in North Dakota. He was a proud member of the Army Reserves for six years. John is survived by his sons, Andrew, Bismarck, and Christopher, Denver; his former wife, Maria, Denver; and numerous cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be given to the Bismarck Cancer Center, 500 N 8th St, Bismarck, ND, 58501, the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library, 515 N 5th St, Bismarck, ND, 58501, or a charity of the donor’s choice.