William John Nicklas

William John Nicklas, age 86 years, of Clinton Township, NJ, died Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the Hunterdon Care Center, Raritan Township, NJ. William was born in Philadelphia, PA, on January 13, 1939 to the late Julius and Ida Nicklas. He is predeceased by his two brothers, Edward and Joseph Nicklas. 

Bill grew up in Philadelphia, PA where he went to Roman Catholic School. After high school Bill attended La Salle College where he graduated with a bachelors of science degree in 1964. After attending La Salle Bill worked at Smith, Kline and French Labs and then spent six months on active duty in the Army Reserves in 1962 and then seven years in the active reserves. 

Bill met his wife Ruth while at Smith, Kline and French Labs and they were married on August 8, 1964. 

Bill attended graduate school at Fordham University in New York in 1964, graduating in 1968 with a PhD in biochemistry and neurology. He spent 1968-1970 on a post-doc fellowship at the Johnson Foundation at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, followed by assistant professor and associate professor at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. He later became a full-time professor at Robert Wood Johnson UMDNJ in Piscataway, NJ, where he taught medical students and conducted research in biochemistry, neurology, and pharmacology until his retirement in 2001.

In 1980 he and his wife were blessed with a son, John Edward, who was adopted from Colombia, South America. Bill became ill and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in June 2023 and treated until November 2024 when he was too weak to continue treatment. 

Bill will be remembered as being a good man, a loving husband and father, and a friend to all who knew him. Bill was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Flemington, NJ, where he participated in the choir, bible studies, taught classes, and was a Stephen Minister and Leader. He was also a Rectrix at tres dias.

Bill was loved and will be missed greatly, but we know that he is now resting in God's loving arms. 

He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-years, Ruth Nicklas; one son, John Nicklas; his grandson, Miles; one sister, Sister Ida Marie; his nephews, Joseph Nicklas and family, Tim Tivault and family; nieces, Winnie Nicklas and family, Ida Madsen, and Marie King and family; sister-in-laws, Margaret Harding and family and Marie Arnold and family.  He is also survived by many cousins-in-law and families and family of his late nephew Kevin Nicklas. 

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Flemington, NJ, at a later date to be announced under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 201 State Route 31, Flemington, NJ 08822.