Claud "NICK" Samuel Nealis

Claud Samuel “Nick” Nealis, of Boise, Idaho passed away on November 23, 2023, just two months shy of his 87th birthday.

Nick was born on January 15, 1937 in Paul, Idaho to Murphy and Jodie (Barr) Nealis. Nick grew up on a farm in Heyburn and graduated from Heyburn High in 1954. After high school, he joined the Idaho National Guard, also working for the Guard full time as a civilian. He retired from the Guard after 42 years, and promptly flunked retirement, going to work for the State of Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services in 1992. He retired (fully) in 2002.

Nick always swore he wouldn’t get married until he was 30. He almost made it, meeting and marrying Mary Lynne “Pete” Reynolds August 20, 1966, when he was 29 years old. He and Pete had two daughters, Angie and Teri, born in 1968 and 1969.

Nick loved to tinker, and could fix anything. Starting several projects (but not always finishing them). He was a voracious reader and the more books the better. Nick became a mason later in life, joining Boise Lodge #2 in 1987 and served as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1994. He was a member of York Rite, El Korah Shrine and the Scottish Rite, receiving his 33 rd Degree in 2005. He was also a member of Eastern Star, belonging to Rob Morris #63 in Kuna, serving as Worthy Patron several times. Nick’s daughters were both members of Job’s Daughters and Nick was a great Jobie Dad, driving and chaperoning events. Once he became a Mason, he got even more involved in Jobies, serving as Associate Grand Guardian of Idaho in 2004.

Pete and Nick traveled extensively in their retirement, enjoying trips for Eastern  Star and also just because. He bought a 1970s GMC motor home off of Ebay (!) that he had to fly to Michigan to pick up. They became seasoned motorhome travelers and traveled all over the U.S. and Canada from Alaska to Nova Scotia. Sadly they couldn’t take the motorhome to Australia; New Zealand, but went there anyway. They also had friends that they went RVing with, most notably the Carrs, Suttons and Demarays.

Nick battled Alzheimer’s for several years and it slowly took him away from his family and friends. The last 7 years were particularly bad, but he was able to stay at home, cared for by his wife, until almost the end.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pete; his daughters Angie (Andy) and Teri; his granddaughters Brittany and Dana and grandson Eric (Des); his great-grandson Riley and great-granddaughters Lina, Aurelia; Elyvia; his brothers Ken (Genie) and Dennis (Vicki); and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter by choice, Maia.

A memorial will be held at the Boise Scottish Rite Center on January 15, 2024 (which would have been his 87th birthday) at 10:00 a.m. Internment will be at the Boise Veteran’s Cemetery at a later date.

 
 Memorial contributions may be made to the Eastern Star Scholarship Fund. Checks should be payable to “Idaho Grand Chapter” and mailed to: Joan Heisch,  Grand Secretary, 910 W. Palouse Dr., Moscow, ID 83843. Alternatively,
contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.  

For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be streamed via Zoom at the link below:
https://idcourts.zoom.us/j/99640142604?pwd=K0F5Tmc0K3NzVGRkSHRJNUFRU
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Meeting ID: 996 4014 2604
Passcode: 664816