R. Joe Nold Sr., longtime resident of Abilene, passed away on March 18, 2024 in Wichita.
Joe was born on September 28, 1940 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the oldest of four sons born to Thomas E. and Carrie Fern (Welch) Nold. The family made their permanent home in Abilene when Joe was quite young. He attended Abilene schools from kindergarten through high school. Joe earned his BS degree from Fort Hays College. Education was important to him, but we know he also enjoyed extracurricular activities. One of his favorite movies was Animal House – he swears the movie was based on his fraternity experience. But his most cherished memory of Fort Hays was meeting and wooing his wife, June Clydesdale Nold. They married in the summer of 1963 – between Joe’s graduation and induction into the United States Army. Joe served in the 101st Airborne division. He volunteered for paratrooper training – not for the thrill, but because the extra “jump pay” allowed him to support June and daughter, Jill. Joe’s first job after serving his country was as an Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. He was passionate about scouting – as a Scout, as an employee, and as a troop leader with his sons, Jeff and Joe Jr. In 1968 Joe landed the job that married his degree in Industrial Arts, his love of scouting and camping, and his appreciation of corporate America – working for The Coleman Company. He rose from shop foreman to Vice President of Manufacturing to President of Coleman International. With each promotion came another location – Wichita to Somerset, PA, back to Wichita, to Oceanside and El Cajon, CA, back to Wichita, Golden, CO, and Kearney, NE. In 1998 June said ENOUGH and they retired to Abilene, building their dream home on Red Bud Lake. A lifelong woodworker, Joe now had time to craft more furniture, buy more tools, and build more porches and decks on their house. But retirement didn’t suit Joe, so he campaigned and was elected as a Dickinson County Commissioner for two terms. In further service to his community, Joe was a founding member of the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, a CASA volunteer, a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Elk’s Lodge, the Audubon Society and served in many roles as a member of the First United Methodist Church. In 2020, Joe relocated once again to Wichita so that he could provide care and comfort to June at Regent Park Assisted Living.
Joe is survived by his wife, June; daughter Jill and Tom Cantonwine; son Jeff and Laura Nold, son Joe Jr. and Sarah Nold, grandchildren Jordan, Tanner, Griffin, and Caitlin Cantonwine, Connor and Sarah Nold, and Lily and Thomas Nold, sister-in-law Judy Nold, and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Bob, Mike, and Tom Jr.
Memorial service to be held at First United Methodist Church, 601 North Cedar, Abilene, Kansas 67410 on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Family visitation will be at 10:00 am and the memorial service will follow t 11:00 am.
The family thanks the staff of Regent Park, Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and Harry Hynes Hospice for their kind care of our dad and grandfather.
In lieu of flowers, consider contributing to the Fort Hays State Foundation, where Joe and June established a scholarship benefitting the institution that brought education and love to their lives. ("Joe and June Nold Scholarship" in the Area of Designation)