Joy Fletcher Nicklas, age 85, of Richland Township., formerly of Middlesex Township, died Tuesday morning, January 17, 2017 at St. Barnabas Nursing Home after a brief stay.  Born in Chicago, IL on March 30,1931, she was the daughter of Roy E. and Lyola H. Fletcher.  Joy finished her degree in education and Spanish in three and a half years and graduated from Monmouth College in 1953,  She was the third generation of women in her family to complete a college degree.  She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and was selected for Mortar Board.  She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, which is where she met her future husband, Raymond J. “Jack” Nicklas.  They were married on June 21, 1953 and celebrated their 61st anniversary just prior to his death in August of 2014.  They established their home in southern Butler County, where they resided until their move to the Villages at St. Barnabas in 2010.

Joy was some form of teacher all her life, whether in a school, a Sunday school or as a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader.  She continued leading Scout troops even after her daughters had completed scouting.  Joy was an active member and served as President of the Women’s Club of Southern Butler County from 1978-1980 and 2004-2006.  Also, she was a member and past President of the North Hills Suburban Fine Arts League as well as a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Zelienople Chapter 485 (formerly part of the Mars OES Chapter).

She was a 63 year member of both First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown and the Butler Country Club.  Joy actively supported her husband in his Rotary activities both locally and internationally as they traveled throughout western PA and other parts of the world.  They made many life long friends as they as they supported Rotary’s mission.

Joy’s passions after her family were crafts and cooking.  Her talents were often on display as the center pieces at many charity functions or as wreath on her neighbor or friend’s doors.  Family and holiday dinners were very important to her.  Although Joy’s family was small in number, the dinner table was often filled with extra guests and visitors to enjoy the food, fellowship and lively conversations.

Preceded in death by her husband and parents, she is survived by her two daughters, Melinda N. Meighan and her husband James of Bradford Woods, PA and Melanie N. Hynden and her husband Douglas of Cincinnati, OH, her two grandsons Kyle N. Hynden and his wife Elizabeth of Charleston, SC and Captain Richard J. Hynden, USMC of San Diego, CA as well as her brother Robert H. Fletcher of Illinois and two nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rich-Mar Rotary Foundation c/o Rich-Mar Rotary P.O. Box 392 Mars, PA  16046 or to Hosanna Industries 109 Rinard Lane, Rochester, PA  15074.

Friends received at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc., 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, PA  16046, on Monday 2-4& 6-8 PM.  Service will be in the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown,, 5825 Heckert Rd. Bakerstown, on Tuesday 10:00 AM, with the rev. Paul Becker, Pastor, Officiating.  Everyone please meet at the Church.  Burial will follow in North Cemetery, Butler, followed by a luncheon at the Butler County Club to celebrate Joy’s life.

Directions and condolences at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.

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