Henry (Hank) William Nicklasson was born July 1, 1914, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Ernst and Henny (Nilsson) Nicklasson. After graduating from Westbrook High School in 1932 and from St. Olaf College as a three sport Honor Athlete in 1936, he began a teaching/coaching career in Milan, Minnesota. In 1939 Hank married Phyllis Jenson. A son, David, was born in 1943. He continued his career at Sleepy Eye and New Ulm, Minnesota. In 1944 he played AA Baseball for the Minneapolis Millers. After a career-ending baseball injury, he taught at New Ulm four more years and then founded Nicklasson Athletic Company, New Ulm. As the business grew from a local supplier of school athletic equipment into a large sporting goods supplier, Hank's brothers, Clarence and Gordon, joined the expanding company. In 1967 he married Jean (Wilson) Beeman. They made their home in Montevideo, Minnesota. Throughout his life, Hank excelled at every sport he played or coached, including baseball, basketball, football, bowling and golf. He was inducted into the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964 and the St. Olaf Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983. Hank passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2006, at Luther Haven in Montevideo at the age of 92 years, 1 month, and 14 days. He is survived by his wife, Jean of Montevideo; brother Clarence "Wheezer" (and Vi) of Lake Allie, Buffalo Lake, Minnesota; brother-in-law Verne Noding of Florida; sisters-in-law, Avis Nicklasson of New Ulm and Betty Wilson Velde of Granite Falls, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Phyllis (1964); son David (1989); brothers: Harry, Robert, Fred and Gordon; sisters: Doris and Joyce; three sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and one niece. Visitation Tuesday, August 22, 2006 * 10:00 a.m. Bergen Lutheran Church, Stony Run Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Funeral Service Tuesday, August 22, 2006 * 11:00 a.m. Bergen Lutheran Church, Stony Run Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Clergy Officiating, Pastor Allan E. Johnson Organist, Kathy Koetter Congregational Hymns "Beautiful Savior" (Processional) "How Great Thou Art!" "Lift High the Cross" (Recessional) Casketbearers John Nicklasson * Paul Wilson Jim Wilson * Evan Wilson Bob Wirtz * James Wirtz Final Resting Place Bergen Lutheran Cemetery, Stony Run Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota