Obituary: Joshua A. Nickerson Jr.

Joshua (Jan) Atkins Nickerson, a local businessman, community leader and longtime resident of Cape Cod, MA passed away peacefully after a short illness on the 11th of July, 2023. He was 88 years old. Jan was born in Boston on April 18, 1935 to Barbara Whitehead Nickerson, a homemaker, and Joshua Atkins Nickerson, Sr, past president of the Nickerson Lumber Company.

Jan grew up in East Harwich, MA and lived in Harwich, Orleans, Brewster and Vero Beach, FL. In 1953 he graduated from Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut where he played football. After high school Jan attended Colby College before joining the Army Signal Corps and serving in Eastern Washington State.

After serving in the Army, Jan returned to the Cape in 1957 to work at the Nickerson Lumber Company which was founded by his grandfather in 1895. He dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the Nickerson Lumber Company and was president of the company as it expanded and eventually became the Mid Cape Home Centers. He was dedicated to his customers and employees until the company was sold in 2012.

Jan loved the water around the Cape, especially Pleasant Bay, and over the years spent much of his leisure time boating and fishing. He enjoyed golf, tennis and flying and engaged in an active lifestyle into his eighties.

Jan was active in local civic and business life. He served on the boards of Cape Cod Hospital, Cape Cod Bank and Trust, and the Chatham Historical Society. He was past president of Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association and Director of Northeastern Retail Lumber Association. He was also a member of the Orleans Rotary Club International.

Jan was blessed with a beautiful love story with his deceased first wife, Louise (Weezie) Nickerson (née Ames). They were married for fifty years from 1956 until her death in 2005. They had one son, Peter Samuel Nickerson, who lives in Person County, NC with his wife, Yukiko Mori. Jan was also a cherished father-in-law to Agnes Wong NIckerson of San Diego, CA, Peter’s first wife, and a loving grandfather to his grandson, William Atkins Nickerson of Portland, OR.

Jan later married Jean Shiel Nickerson, and Jan and Jean shared nearly twenty years of a beautiful relationship. Jan was a much beloved and loving “Papi” to his and Jean’s grandchildren, Aidan and Allison Westley, and a trusted and cherished father figure to their mother, Dr. Monica Shiel-Westley (husband Nick Westley). Jan was also a supportive stepfather to Jean’s sons Jonathan Shiel (partner Heather Hoffman) and Paul Shiel.

Additionally, Jan is survived by a cousin Susannah Chamberlin (née Nickerson), nieces Grace Butler (née Madden), Peggy Ashworth (née Madden) and her husband Craig Ashworth, and nephew Bill Madden.

The family will hold a memorial to celebrate Jan’s life at the Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans on August 4 from 4 PM to 7 PM. The program will commence at 5 PM. The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, make a donation in Jan’s memory to the Nickerson Family Association, Chatham Historical Society, or the Kelley Foundation. These organizations were close to Jan’s heart.

Source: Nickerson Funeral Home