Robert Lane Nicholas

Robert Nicholas, 80, passed peacefully from this life on August 5, 2025. He was at home, surrounded by those who loved him deeply.

Robert was born on July 11, 1945, to Gil and Bette Nicholas in Ogden, Utah. He attended Ben Lomond High School, where he excelled in sports, particularly wrestling and football. He went on to play quarterback for Weber State University, earning degrees in philosophy and political science.

After college, Robert served as a police officer in Ogden. Though his time on the force was brief, he remained proud of his service and the lifelong friendships he built during those years. He later joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, even training at the famed Top Gun program. He rose to the rank of Captain and carried the Marine spirit with him throughout his life. A proud “Oorah!” was never far from his lips, and each year on November 10, the Marine Corps Birthday was celebrated with great zeal. His time in the Marines shaped his strong personal code of honor and sense of duty. Robert spent most of his career in medical sales, where he consistently excelled. Though his territory was modest, he regularly outsold much larger regions and was awarded “Salesman of the Year” multiple times. Hospitals across the Wasatch Front and beyond knew him not only as a consummate professional but as a dear friend.

Of all his accomplishments, Robert was proudest to be a husband to Rachel Nicholas and a father to Gil, Marc, Kris, David, and Carver. He was fiercely dedicated to his family’s well-being and character. To be loved by him was to feel known, protected, and uplifted. His love extended to countless friends, many of whom remained close to him for decades. To know Robert was to have a lifelong friend.

He embodied chivalry, believed in doing the right thing for the right reasons, and feared God more than man. He was best known for his quiet acts of service—rising early to shovel neighbors’ sidewalks, checking in on the lonely, and giving of himself without ever seeking credit. His ability to sense when someone needed help, and how best to offer it, was one of his greatest gifts. The number of lives he touched is beyond measure.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Gil and Bette Nicholas, and his sister, Lana Willett. He is survived by his wife, Rachel Nicholas; his siblings, Gary (Lee Ann), Marc (Georgia), Judy (Jeff), and Joe Willett; his children, Gil (Tara), Marc, Kris, David, and Carver (Tanner); and 13 beloved grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 16, at the Bountiful 34th Ward Chapel, 540 N 1200 E, Bountiful, Utah, where friends may visit the family from 9:30-10:00 a.m. prior to the service. All are welcome