Arthur Donald Nikodim, age 90, of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born May 31, 1925 at the home farm Southeast of Virgil City, Missouri. He was the youngest of two sons born to Frank and Anna Nikodim. He attended the Walnut Grove school near Virgil City.
Art served in the United States Army from Feb. 1945 to Dec. 1946 . He was a Sergeant in the 13th Army Air Corp stationed in the Philippines. We have enjoyed hearing so many interesting stories from his army life.
After meeting the love of his life, Alice Joetta Gilpin, they married on November 25, 1949, in Bentonville, Arkansas. They then moved to Grandview, Missouri, where he worked for the Ford Motor Company and later Quesenberry Feeds. To their union two children were born : Donald and Joyce. Upon returning to El Dorado Springs in 1957, Art was employed hauling milk for Producers Creamery, later known as Mid America Dairymen. He continued his employment there until his retirement in 1987.
Art and Alice always found time to plant and harvest the most amazing gardens. His specialty was growing delicious watermelons. He also had a love for collecting and working on antique tractors. He thoroughly enjoyed the tractor pulls he entered over the years and attending antique tractor shows.
Art was a loving husband and father and grandfather. He and Alice celebrated a major milestone on November 25, 2014. It was their 65th wedding anniversary. He always had a smile on his face and an infectious laugh. He loved telling interesting stories from his experiences. He was an avid attender of the El Dorado Springs Annual Picnic, only missing 3 of them in his entire life. He was such a kind hearted loving man that stole the hearts of all that knew him. He loved visiting with friends at the coffee shop and enjoyed their company and stories.
Preceding Arthur in death is his loving wife, Alice; his parents and his brother Robert.
Survivors include one son, Don Nikodim and wife Betty, of Columbia, MO; one daughter, Joyce Cain and husband Tom of El Dorado Springs; three granddaughters: Krissy Walter and husband Chad of El Dorado Springs, Kimmy Nielsen and husband J.P. of Excelsior Springs, MO; and Kamber Cain of El Dorado Springs; one grandson, Jason Stout and wife, Kristen, of Navato, CA; five great grandchildren: Maci and Ryder Walter, Kolt and Mason Nielsen and Lily Stout and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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