Arthur I. Nixon passed away peacefully on November 30th, 2018, at Bay Shores Senior Care and Rehab Center due to complications with congestive heart failure and anemia. He was 88 years old. A native of Clinton, Iowa, “Art” was born to the late Arthur & Edna (Titus) Nixon on April 18, 1930.
He attended St Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa where he played varsity football (including as a star half-back on an undefeated 1949 team) and attained his teaching degree in 1951. He ultimately… Read More » completed his Masters’ degree in History at Central Michigan University in 1965. Art married his beloved wife, Joanne Smith Nixon on December 12, 1950 in Ottawa, Ill.
In the 1953-54 school year, Art taught at St Ambrose Academy. In 1954, he and his family moved to Bay City (where they ultimately raised seven children), and where Art taught history and coached varsity football at St Joseph High School from 1954-1959 (with the 1956 team completing a 9-0 season). In 1959, Art began his career at Bay City Central (BCC), where he taught history and social studies and was the varsity football offensive and defensive line coach (working with Elmer Engel & Ken Loop) through the 1972 season.
During this period, BCC achieved mythical unbeaten Class “A” Football state champion status in 1965, 1967, 1969, and 1972. Art also coached freshman and ultimately varsity basketball (winning the district championship in 1975) as well as Track. Between1976 and 1992, Art continued his support of the Bay City School system as city-wide athletic director and Adult Education director.
He retired from Bay City Public Schools after 33 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Art was inducted into the Saint Ambrose Hall of Fame and the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame. Art was a member of Saint Jude Thaddeus parish.
He lived his life by placing his family and God first. He will be missed by each life he touched. During his retirement years, it seemed that everywhere he traveled in the Bay City area, a former teaching associate or student sought him out to say hello and thank him for his involvement in their lives, especially those who toiled for him in the trenches while at St. Joe and Central.
He was an outstanding role model as a father, teacher, coach and administrator. He was a most loving and caring husband and father and grandfather. He loved to play tennis and run long distances at the BCC track.
He will be missed by his family and friends. In addition to his parents, Art was predeceased by his son, Michael (1974) and his daughter, Margaret (2012). Art is survived by his wife of 67 years (Joanne) and his children: Kevin (Judy) of Princeton Junction, NJ, Hugh (Margaret) of Bay City, John (Melissa) of Bay City, Chris (Shawn) of Unionville, CT, and Alison (Mark) of Flint Hill, VA; also, 11 grandchildren (Erin Schafer, Sara, Mimi, and Katie Nixon, Jane Nixon, Lauren, Jeff, and Andrew Nixon, Caroline and Chris Nixon, and Anika Pruntel) and 1 great-grand-child (AshLyn Andress).
Art is also survived by his brother, Robert (Clinton, Iowa) and sister, Marlene Thompson (St. Johns, Fla. ). The Nixon family greatly appreciates the efforts of Bay Shores and McLaren Hospice dedicated staff members who provided care and support for Art.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 11:00 am at St. John Church of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, 614 Pine St., Essexville with Rev. Dale A. Orlik presiding. Cremation has taken place and a private family interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery.
Visiting with the family will on Thursday in church only from 9:00 am until the time of the Mass. Memorial contributions may be designated for the Salvation Army or St. Jude Thaddeus Parish. For online sentiments visit: www.
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