Lawrence R. "Nick" Knickerbocker passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, in his home with his wife by his side.

He was born September 18, 1932, in Owosso, Michigan to Lee and Mabel Knickerbocker.

In the USAF from 1950 – 1954 as an Electronic/Electrical Technician in the Strategic Air Command, he was stationed at FE Warren AFB, Wyoming, Loring AFB, Maine, and Walker AFB, NM achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Nick married Marjorie Coleman on October 15, 1955, and had three children:  Jeff, Vicky, and Keith Eric.

Nick and Marge moved from Perry, Michigan to Prescott, Arizona for a short while in 1961, returning to Perry later that year.  They moved to Cottonwood, Arizona in 1965 and then to Cornville, Arizona in 1970. In the summer of 1977 they moved to Bolivar, Missouri, then to Scottville, Michigan in 1980 for a year and a half before returning to Bolivar.  Marge passed away in May 2012.

Nick was an auto mechanic, co-owning OK Auto Repair in Cottonwood, Arizona and later worked for Bill Grant Ford and Bill Roberts Chevrolet in Bolivar.  While in Scottville, Michigan, he worked at a canning factory.

On April 7, 2013, he married Dorothy Garner.

He gave his heart to the Lord early in his life and served Him faithfully for over 60 years.  At the time of his passing, he was a member of Lakeside Assembly of God church in Pittsburg, Missouri.

He liked nothing better than to cut firewood, putter in the garage and talk about everything under the sun.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents, sister Leona, wife Marge, and son Keith.  He is survived by his wife, Dorothy of the home; son Jeff (Susie) of Whitehall, Wisconsin; daughter Vicky (Robert) Smoker of Olathe, Kansas; step-daughter Pamela (David) Terpening of Pittsburg, MO; daughter-in-law Amanda Fillmore of Culver City, CA; grandchildren Jeremy Knickerbocker of Cookeville, Tennessee; Heather Smoker of Overland Park, Kansas; Matthew Smoker of Shawnee, Kansas, and nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are his dogs, Rascal and Fior.

A life well-lived celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26th, 2025, at Lakeside Assembly of God in Pittsburg, MO.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CMH Hospice, Bolivar, MO.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services of Springfield, MO.