Clarence P. Nikolai

Visitation for Clarence P. Nikolai, 90, of Palatine since 1959, will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2018 from 3:00PM until 8:00PM at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy, Palatine. Prayers will begin at 9:30AM on Friday, October 26, 2018, also at the funeral home, proceeding to St. Theresa Catholic Church, 455 N. Benton Street, Palatine, IL for the Funeral Mass at 10:00AM. The Interment will follow at Union Cemetery in Palatine.

Clarence was born March 5, 1928 in Stratford, WI, the son of the late Joseph and Anne (nee Gerl) Nikolai and passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Clarence grew up in Stratford and when he was in 5th grade he was given a pocket watch and he being a curious boy, took it apart and put it back together again. This began his future career as a watch maker. Clarence served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Germany. After being honorably discharged he came to Illinois and went to the Elgin Watch Makers School. Clarence became a very proficient watch maker and was hired as a professor at the school to train others in the art of watch making. Clarence then met the love of his life Norma Cloyd and they were married. He later opened a machine shop, Metal Crafts of Palatine, in the late 1960’s which he owned until the time when he sold the business.

Beloved husband of Norma C. (nee Cloyd) Nikolai, loving father of Elizabeth Ann “Betsy” (Bernard) Walter, Kevin (Mariette) Nikolai and Jane (Tom) Prochnow; cherished grandfather of B.J., Robbie and Katie Walter, Wyatt and Alex Nikolai, Natalie (Chris) Stevens, Tom (Lauren) Prochnow, Jr. and Lauren Prochnow; dear brother of the late James (late Ariel) Nikolai, Lucille (late Joseph) Adamus, Richard (Marie) Nikolai, the late Jeanette (Harry) Nikolai, Pat (Helen) Nikolai and the late Lenor Hanneman; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Clarence, would be appreciated to the Palatine Historical Society, 224 E. Palatine Road, Palatine, IL 60067 or to the Friends of the Palatine Library, 700 North Court, Palatine, IL 60067.