BOMBER MEMORIAL

NICKOLAS ALBERT "NICK" THOENNES ~ Class of 1967
December 25, 1948 - November 18, 2018



Nickolas Albert "Nick" Thoennes was born December 25, 1948. He passed away at the age of 69 on November 18, 2018 in Renton, WA.

Nick attended Christ the King School through 8th grade, Carmichael Junior High School for 9th grade and graduated with the Class of 1967 from Richland's Columbia High School. Nick was active in sports playing baseball and basketball (varsity his junior and senior years of high school), was on the staff of the high school paper "The Sandstorm", was Tolo Prince his junior year of high school and was Class President his senior year of high school.

He left high school with the intent of working in the construction business or as an architect. Nick started in Architecture at WSU then switched to Construction Management. While a senior, he found out about the new program in Hospital Administration at the UW. After applying and being accepted in their first Masters Class, he finished in two years and was hired at University Hospital, going on to St. Vincent in Portland and then Tacoma General Hospital (Multi-care) in Tacoma. After 17 years in hospital administration, he left and joined Virginia Mason as their hotel and property manager. Four more years as a hotel manager and hotel marketing director gave him some insight in sales. Nick left and started his own company, NT Enterprises, Inc. as an advertising and marketing consultant to small buisnesses.

For the 40-year reunion he wrote:

"My main activity is producing upscale coupon books (small business and advertising) mailed to high-end homes in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and Issaquah. Working for yourself, gives you freedom to use your own time, much of it at home, to run your business and be my own boss. I have enjoyed running my small business, and the income has been significantly higher than working in a large company."

"My 23 year old son, Jake, graduated from UW last year and is working for a marketing firm in Issaquah at this time (like father, like son?). My 21 year old, Tyler, is a senior at WSU-Vancouver, finishing up in computer science/business adminstration. I am currently married (2nd time) and living in Renton. I had heard the 'retirement' word many times at the recent reunion and envy those mates that have already made the transition. Although I plan to work for another 6+ years doing the same, I am looking forward to that day--more golf, travel, salmon fishing and reading are on the agenda."

"I have enjoyed each reunion, 10-year, 20, 25, 30, 35 and now 40-year. Each has been different. As we approach our twilight years, the memories of high school, both enjoyable and painful, linger in my mind, never to be forgotten. I look forward to the next, 45-year reunion, and seeing and hearing about everyone's joys of growing older and wiser."

Nick is survived by his wife, Jie Du; sons, Jake and Tyler; and his brother, Dennis.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Bernadine.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).