Nicholas "Nick" Amschl

Nick Amschl (November 11, 1945-November 15, 2025)

Nicholas “Nick” Amschl of Cedar Lake, IN, was released from his mortal coil (to quote Shakespeare) to join the universe and discern all the answers on Saturday, November 15, 2025, just days after marking his 80th birthday. 

For 40+ years, he had many successful battles with heart disease, a memento from his tour in Vietnam in the early 1970s, but he ultimately lost the war. Nevertheless, during his last weeks when doctors asked Janice, his wife of 12 years, what his short-term goals were, she steadfastly quoted Nick, “I want to live.” 

Nick, having been born in Landshut, Germany right at the end of WWII, immigrated to the United States with his parents Adolf and Ursula and sister Sigrid in 1953. Ever since, he’s been proud to be an American citizen, and later, a veteran. The Amschls moved to the Brainerd neighborhood of Chicago to live near family, and Nick eventually graduated from Calument High School.

In 1968, Nick graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago Circle. He considered attending graduate school or law school, but the US Army’s request for his presence in Vietnam changed his future. He finished his tour in 1971 as a Specialist 5th Class, having directed an artillery unit north of Saigon. 

He returned home to his young family, including daughter Tiffany and son Garrick (with his then wife, Marilyn) and shortly thereafter went to work for his uncle, Nick Froio, as a machinist/gagemaker at Alfro Optical in Harvey, IL. “Nicky” worked for Alfro for 20+ years, until his uncle closed the business, at which time Nick took the equipment home and became a successful small business owner with A+ Gage.

Nick was also involved with horses for much of his life: first an Arabian horse breeding business in Frankfort, IL, with his first wife and then a boarding and lesson facility in Cedar Lake, IN, with his second wife.

Nick had a brilliant mind right up to the end, devouring books of all genres, but particularly those on history, politics, and science, and he closely followed national and international news. Though he never did finish grad school, he did take a few graduate classes, and he never gave up his passion for the Constitution and all it stands for, including freedom of speech, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the premise of checks & balances in government, among other things.

His keen machinist's eye could always tell you if something was off level within millimeters, and he spent copious hours fixing vehicles and equipment of all types and doing home repairs (including extensive renovations on his house in Cedar Lake).  

For much of his life, Nick was a hard-working perfectionist who would labor from dawn to dusk. In his later years, however, some of the hard edges formed by war and ill health softened him into a more sentimental soul who cared deeply for his family, especially his wife Janice and his three grandchildren. He enjoyed more peaceful activities with Janice, like gardening, music, reading the newspaper and walking at the local park. 

He is survived by his loving wife Janice; children Tiffany (Linus) and Garrick (Delila); three grandchildren: Caiden, Savanna, and Conner, whom he adored; sister Sigrid Meadows; and nieces Melissa Meiris and Jessica Meiris. He is preceded in death by his parents Adolf and Ursula (Kroh);  and his aunts and uncles, Nick & Irmgard (Kroh) Froio and Edmund & Gertrude (Kroh) Haardt.

It took many years for him to come to terms with and then embrace his identity as a veteran, but Nick was honored to have served his country. He continued to fight for democracy in whatever way he could, including with his own custom yard signs. In his last weeks, he wrote down his ideas for new signs. The one that sums him up best is: “I am a veteran. I took an oath. It never expired.” 

In lieu of flowers, Nick would love to see donations directed to Disabled Veterans, the Institute for Free Speech, or the American Heart Assn.

Arrangements entrusted to Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper - Michael Kuiper-Vass 219-838-0800 www.hilllsidefhcares.com

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