Anastasia Nickels

Anastasia (Ina) Nickels, 90, of Littleton, passed away at Cherrelyn Healthcare Center on Friday, October 20, 2017. She was born in Littleton, Colorado on April 25, 1927 to Juan A. and Rosita C. Trujillo. Ina was preceded in death by her husband Joe of 54 years, her parents, Juan & Rosita, three brothers, Paul, Ramon and Juan A. Trujillo, Jr., two children, Jimmy Reed Nickels and Marilyn Rose Hall; and one grandson, Samuel Arthur Gallup.

She is survived by her three sons, Leland Francis (Pat), Donald Allan, Joe Francis III (Meta) Nickels, and two daughters, Melinda Lee Nickels and Marie Elena (Tina) Buchanan. She is also survived by sisters, Amada Evans, Rosalie Anderson, Connie Huydts, Patty Clough and Flora Strait; four brothers, Louis, Barton, Jose and Philip Trujillo. She has numerous nieces and nephews.

Ina had 7 children; 18 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Ina attended Littleton Public Schools and met her husband, Joe, when he came to Colorado to visit his parents, who had moved from Oklahoma. They were married September 23, 1944 in Lakewood, CO. Joe was in the Army Air Force and soon after they married he was shipped overseas to England. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 bomber. Upon Joe's discharge from the military, they moved into an old 45 foot high grain silo on Bowles Avenue which had been converted into a three level, 3-room home. They lived there for a year and then moved to the adjacent barn which was converted to an apartment. After raising their seven children, they finally bought a mobile home in Wolhurst Adult Community and Ina had lived there for 31 years at the time of her death. Ina was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, an interpreter, a homemaker and a caring friend. She loved cooking, dancing (especially "jitterbug"), 40's music, reading, watching video tapes of old movies, sewing, angels, suckers and visiting with her dear friends at the mobile home park. Ina has been described by some as being quite "feisty", and a "pistol". We know she was very independent, ingenuous, interesting and fun to be around. Her favorite color was pink; favorite song was "I'll be Seeing You"; favorite food was enchiladas, green chili and steak; favorite teachers were Mrs. Bertha Booth, Mrs. McLain & Mrs. Hazler. Ina wanted people to remember her as being ambitious, with a lot of "spunk." She will surely be missed by those who loved her!

She will be laid to rest with her husband Joe at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. Ina requested no services be held.