Jeffery Nicolaison

Jeffery "Jeff" Edward Nicolaison, known by many as "Buckwheat" passed away peacefully on September 10, 2025, at the age of 69.

Born on October 3, 1955, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Robert and Donna (Sweetalla) Nicolaison. A proud graduate of Oshkosh West High School, Jeff was proud to talk of and often about his welding days and took immense pride in his craft as a car detailer, before retiring from Wisconsin Ordinance. Jeff had great enthusiasm for life that went far beyond his profession; he greatly enjoyed being outdoors- and you could always find Jeff outside tinkering in his garage, maintaining his lawn, or sitting in his lawn chair with his dog, Lilly, a refreshment in hand, and his music turned up way too loud. 

Those who knew Jeff will remember him for his infectious sense of humor. He had a knack for turning mundane moments into joy-filled memories, often with his playful comments and funny nicknames that never failed to cause a laugh. Jeff had a big heart, always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. His kindness and spirit resonated deeply with family and friends alike. 

In the realm of sports, whether cheering on his favorite teams or playing games with family, Jeff's passion was evident. Some of his girls' best memories were when his competitive side shone through, especially during family Monopoly nights where, despite his best efforts, he often found himself on the losing end where, regardless, the night would end in a room full of belly laughs. Jeff also took immense pride in being called Grandpa and loved spending time with his grandson, Kameron. 

Jeff will be dearly missed by his two loving daughters, Alissa (James) Burrows and Rachel Nicolaison, and his grandson Kameron, who will carry forward his legacy of love, laughter, and generosity. He is further survived by his sister; Linda Bosin, sisters-in-law; Sue Nicolaison, Nickie (Dee) Durant, Kerry (Scott) Derr, brother-in-law; Quint (Mary) Derr. His father and mother-in-law; Les and Sue Derr and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Jeff is preceded by his parents, Robert and Donna, brothers; William "Bill" Nicolaison, Joel Nicolaison, his significant other; Kelly Derr, brother-in-law Gene Bosin, sister-in-law; Shelby Derr. 
We invite friends and family to join us in honoring Jeff's memory with a visitation on September 19, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Konrad-Behlman-West 100 Lake Pointe Dr. Oshkosh, WI 54904. A memorial service will follow at 12:30 PM. Afterward, we will gather for a graveside service at Lake View Memorial Park in Oshkosh, WI at 3:00 PM.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Dimensions Living- Cudahy for the care and companionship they provided to our father during his time there, especially Sonya. We are also especially grateful to the team at Brighton Hospice for their compassionate support they provided. Your kindness and dedication brought comfort and dignity to both him and our family, and we will always be thankful.

We'll miss you, Dad - a.k.a. "The Guru of Car Cleaning," as you proudly called yourself.