Verilee Mary Nicholas, the daughter of Edwin Henry Bruce and Helen Cecilia Grudle Bruce, was born on August 21, 1931 at Council Bluffs, Iowa and entered into rest at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at the age of 85.

Verilee was raised in Hastings, Iowa. When she was in the 8th grade the family moved to Malvern, Iowa. She graduated from Red Oak High School on May 25, 1949. She was united in marriage to Thomas Wesley Nicholas at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Red Oak, Iowa on November 29, 1952. To this marriage three children were born, Douglas, Vicki and Wesley. After their marriage they farmed near Essex, Iowa.

Through the years Verilee did many things. She worked for Mutual of Omaha, Union Carbide in Red Oak, Hand Hospital in Shenandoah, all while helping Tom on the farm. She picked chickens, and ran the Dairy Inn in Essex, while working with her husband Tom at S and S Farm Supply Store in Red Oak. When Tom's health was failing she was at home taking care of him until his passing on December 30, 1995. After Tom's death she worked at Hardees and Gardenview Care Center in Shenandoah. She later took up crafts and she went to many craft shows to sell her goods, along with cleaning homes in the area and working part time at Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home. Her last craft show was just before the holiday season this year.

She enjoyed sewing, creating Angel Pins and crafting of any type, taking her two granddaughters Chelsey and Helen to many of the craft shows. Verilee was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and its Altar Society in Imogene, Iowa.

Verilee was preceded in death by her parents, husband Tom, sister Eileen Jones and husband Dale, a brother Keith Bruce, brother, Donnie Bruce and wife Beverly, sister-in-law Carol Bruce and brother-in-law Harold Morrical and nephews Bruce Morrical and Larry Bruce.

Survivors include her children, Wesley Nicholas and wife Tammy of Essex, Vicki Scharp and husband Jerry of Shenandoah, Doug Nicholas in Colorado; grandchildren, Chelsey and Helen Nicholas, Christi Slater and husband Ryan, Kati Cullin and husband Kyle, TJ Scharp, Molly Roberts and husband Lance, Matt Nicholas, and Mitchell Nicholas; great grandchildren, Quentin, Maci and Boone Slater, Brody, Brynlee and Brecker Cullin, Stella Scharp, Addison Roberts; brother, Kenny Bruce and wife Phyllis of Red Oak; sister, Lorraine Morrical of Hastings and sister-in-law Mary Bruce of Hastings; along with many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 am, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imogene, Iowa.

Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, January 16, 2017 at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imogene, Iowa with visitation to follow until 8:30 p.m.

Burial will be held at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Imogene, Iowa.

Memorials are being established.