Roland Nicolitz

On October 18, 2011 Roland "Nick" Nicolitz returned to his eternal home, were he was greeted by his father Alexander, his mother Augustine, his older brother Rino; and our heavenly Father. If you were fortunate enough to have met Nick while he was among us, you probably wouldn't be surprised to hear that he greeted everyone waiting for him with one of those infamous "Nick jokes"! Born February 17, 1941 in Surabaya Indonesia and as the third oldest sibling of seven Nick led by his father and mother fled Indonesia to Holland during the Japanese take over of the islands. Then in 1957 in search of a better life Alexander Nicolitz brought the entire Nicolitz family to America with the help of the First Presbyterian Church of Las Cruces. Upon arriving and living in Las Cruces Nick soon discovered that Dutch-Indos were in very short supply in Las Cruces and soon took Greely's advice and went West to California were there were many more Dutch-Indos and more opportunities. In pursuit of the American dream Nick worked as a welder's apprentice, but his patriotism led him to enlist in the Army. After completing his basic training at Fort Ord, CA. in 1964 Nick served his country honorably serving in combat in Vietnam; and also in Korea. After being honorably discharged in 1966 Nick returned to California were he learned the welding trade, Nick also started Dutchman's Janitorial service and afforded all of his younger brothers employment while they attended school. Nick ran Dutchman's very successfully for 10+ years. Nick then moved back to Las Cruces to be closer to his family. In 1976 Nick read an article about the T-shirt craze and with very little knowledge about the business, but a great deal of enthusiasm started Nicolitz Sportswear and Screen Printing. In the first five years of starting his business Nick found the love of his life at the Legg's plant where he often bought his t-shirts, Fina Granados a very soft spoken and sweet woman won Nick's heart and loved Nick for 30 plus years. Fina, being the devoted and loving wife was there when Nick passed and was strong for Nick during his final days. Nick and Fina ran the business for 35 years, and gave of their resources and talent to many sports teams in the area that needed sponsorships. Nick also served his county by serving as a Volunteer Sherriff's Deputy for eleven years and was very proud to wear the DASO uniform! Nick's passions while living were hunting, bowling, hunting, being with his loving "Flaca", gardening roses and did we mention hunting!? Nick is preceded in death by his father Alexander, mother Augustine, and older brother Rino. Nick leaves behind his two beloved daughters Maike Jackson and Lizzy DeFeniks Also surviving Nick is his older sister Winny Davis and her husband Jimmy Davis, younger sister Wanda Mattiace and her husband Bill Mattiace, three younger bothers Ernst and wife Liz Nicolitz, Eric Nicolitz and Marcel Nicolitz. If Nick's life and the way he lived had to be summed up in three words, they would be Honesty, integrity and industrious. Roland "Nick" Nicolitz will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but heaven just got one heck of a screen printer and one great man. Services are being handled by Getz's Funeral home at 1410 E. Bowman St. in Las Cruces, NM 88001. A visitation and prayer will be conducted at Getz's Funeral home on October 23, 2011 from 5:00-7:00pm. A celebration service officiated by Rev. Norman Story will be held at The First Presbyterian Church located at 200 E. Boutz Road, Las Cruces, NM. This service will be on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:00am.Internment will follow. PDF Printable Version