Shirley A. Nicholas

We celebrate the life and faith of Shirley Ann Nicholas, 72, of Cook, who went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. A celebration of life service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. An evening visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 at Cook Covenant Church and again at 10 a.m. before the service at Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider making a donation in Shirley’s memory to the Missions Fund at the Evangelical Covenant Church of Cook, PO Box 427, Cook, MN 55723. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
Shirley was born in Lincoln, Ill., to Loren and Mariann Wood on Dec. 30, 1953. When Shirley was five years old, her family moved to Cook where she started Kindergarten and met her lifelong friends, Jill Klapatch and Bailey Conger. As a child she enjoyed riding her horse, playing the clarinet, participating in Brownies, and recreation time at Lake Vermilion. On May 22, 1976, she married Charles Nicholas of Lake Nebagamon, Wis., after they graduated from Oak Hills Bible Institute in 1975. They continued their studies at William Jennings Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn., before returning to live in Cook in 1978. Shirley always had a heart for Christian ministry and worked for Youth for Christ in the 1970’s and 1980’s, sharing her faith and the joy she found in Jesus with young people.
She was overjoyed to become a mother in 1984 when she had her first son, Cameron, and excited to welcome her second son, Trevor, just 18 months later. Whether she was raising her two boys or working as the Community Education swimming pool coordinator at Cook Elementary and High School, Shirley encouraged others to do their best and work hard to achieve their goals. She was always up for an adventure and had many while canoeing and camping in the Boundary Waters. When her boys were both on the path to becoming Eagle Scouts, Shirley was their biggest “encourager” and her boys would joke in saying it was really her who deserved the honor.
Shirley shared God’s love and joy wherever she went, whether traveling to Rochester for health care appointments, or leading her “Joy Group” Bible study/prayer group. Even while dealing with chronic pain, she would look for “joy pops” throughout her day, things that encouraged her and reminded her of God’s loving presence with her. She was a lifelong member and active lay leader at Cook Covenant Church, where she and Chuck got married, where she utilized her Christian education degree to lead Sunday School and youth group, and where she was a member of the choir.
Shirley taught her friends and family much about perseverance, love, and caring for others, even during her chronic pain.
Shirley was the beloved wife of Charles “Chuck”; loving mother of Cameron and Trevor and his wife, Renee; proud grandmother of Ethan and Everett Nicholas of Chicago, Ill.; dear aunt of Amanda Wood, Braden Johnson, Ella Rehm, Leslie Nicholas, Carah Nicholas, Emma and Ja’lon Sventek and their daughter Amarie; and treasured sister-in-law of Steve, Tami and Jim Nicholas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Loren and Mariann Wood; and brother, Loren Dean Wood Jr. Shirley was joined in death just two days later by her son, Cameron.
It gave us hope to hear her final words, “A new adventure!” While our hearts are heavy with her passing, we take comfort in knowing that she is with Jesus and has heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”