Nicole not only found beauty in nature, but in people as
well. She was a fierce defender of
the downtrodden, and could always be counted on to stand up for their
rights---even if it included physical confrontation.
On one occasion several of the neighborhood boys were teasing a younger
girl. They had taken her cap, and
in spite of her crying pleas, refused to give it back. Nicole wanted to help her little friend, but since they were
three boys older than her, she resorted to the only means at hand.
Picking up a tree branch Nicole proceeded to swat the boys until they
gave the hat back, and then a few more swats after that for good measure.
Nicole followed her sister in competitive air rifle
shooting. It was soon discovered
that although right handed by nature, she was left-eye dominant.
Switching to her left side was no problem for Nicole and she soon became
a very accomplished marksman. At an
early age she began working as a �puller� and referee at the local gun club.
Her disarming personality, combined with exceptional reflexes, soon lead
to her status as a top referee among the shooters. She made them feel good about themselves and did all she
could to help them succeed. As time
went on she became so infatuated with shotgun sports that her mom and dad gave
her a trap shotgun as a gift for her Confirmation in the Church.
When Nicole was 16 year old her interest quickly turned to
independence. That independence
could be spelled out in three letters---CAR.
Her choice of transportation fit her personality perfectly.
It had to be a Volkswagen bug. Nicole
promptly wrecked her first bug, and not long after, her second bug.
It was time to get Nicole something a bit more substantial. Her third car was a Bronco.
While Nicole was an excellent driver in some ways, her temperament
wasn�t necessarily geared to the discipline of good driving habits.
Virtually all of her problems were the result of simply not paying
attention. However, in the process
of all this, Nicole began to show extraordinary mechanical talents.
This was also a way to impress a long list of boyfriends who were seldom
able to keep up with her expertise. That,
combined with her shooting and general outdoor skills, became a bit intimidating
to some boys. Although Nicole soon
learned to hide these talents around boys, her general enthusiasm made it a
daunting task.
As Nicole entered college her creative instincts turned to cooking. She became fascinated by the nuances of fine food preparation, and began working part time in a series of restaurants. She began studying the art diligently, continually seeking out finer restaurants to apply her newly discovered talent. A restaurant management position in one of Denver�s largest restaurants became the motivation for her move to Denver, CO. Denver also happened to be the home of a wonderful young man she had fallen in love with. Denver provided everything Nicole had been looking for her entire life. A man she loved and respected, a great job with serious career potential, and the awesome Rocky Mountains. Nicole�s letters home were filled with joy and excitement as she described the majestic mountains and her love of all they offered.
But Colorado�s mountain attractions didn�t deter from Nicole�s fondness for shooting. She quickly found several great places to shoot clay targets. Her enthusiasm was such that she quickly convinced many of her workmates to join her in a round of sporting clays and trap. In a matter of a few short weeks she had converted many of them to the joys of shooting. Nicole also had a long-term love for riding 4-wheelers. She and her father had often spent wonderful weekends in the mountains of Oregon 4-wheeling, shooting targets, and camping. She was a fearless and very accomplished rider. Perhaps her love of freedom, independence, and the beauty of nature were the real reason she loved the machines so much. They provided an exciting and invigorating way to see even more and to do it faster. Colorado�s mountain terrain offered even more challenges than Oregon�s had. Her parents weren�t too surprised to hear that Nicole�s boyfriend had purchased a new and powerful 4-wheeler.
Nicole developed her love for hiking in Oregon. In Colorado that love grew exponentially. If no one was available to go with her, she was perfectly comfortable in taking a long hike alone. In Oregon, Nicole would often take her dad or mom along�or their golden retriever. But Nicole didn�t just hike for exercise. She wanted to go higher and higher in order to see more and more of the wonders below. She would stop and describe a particular view in reverent tones, and those hiking with her would often see the beauty as if for the first time. Nicole�s love of nature and the outdoors was tangible, and her descriptions of its beauty were vivid.
Those who had the privilege of knowing Nicole have been forever touched by her love of life, her love of people, and her love of the wonders of nature. She is missed so very much by those who knew her, but they are fortified in the knowledge that her spirit is still in the great outdoors, and the lessons she taught will live on. What a wonderful gift she has given to all who had the privilege to know her.
Ray Oeltjen
12-1-02