Jim Nicolotti, 76, died on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, in Tulsa, OK.
A funeral mass was celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church. Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel in Tulsa, OK, assisted the family with arrangements.
Mr. Nicolotti was born on Feb. 20, 1946, in Witt, to Louis and Helen Nicolotti. He grew up on a farm and was certainly a prankster. The funniest being when he and a cousin hoisted an animal onto the second story loft of a neighbor’s farm.
On April 24, 1965, he married Donna Keating in Nokomis. They shared 47 years of life together - entertaining, traveling, gambling and spending time with their children and grandchildren before he suddenly lost the love of his life in 2013.
Mr. Nicolotti had various jobs throughout the years, always looking to create something and recreate himself. In 1980, Mr. Nicolotti and his family moved to Tulsa, OK, where he was following his entrepreneurial spirit and chasing the oil boom. Clearly his spirit was high, but his timing was off, so he created a lawn care company, worked with ORU starting their real estate company, and then found his true passion in 1995 when he founded Galaxy Limousine with his daughter Tricia. He instilled a strong work ethic and innovative business sense in his children - and often their friends.
Mr. Nicolotti was dedicated to his children and their activities, and they could always count on their dad to be in the stands cheering them on, leading the fundraiser, or supporting a run for office. He first got his CDL so he could drive the sports bus to the various events across the country. And during the holiday season, the Nicolotti house was always easy to find; awesomely overly done and lit up, winning the “PSO Tulsa House of the Year” in the late 1990s.
Mr. Nicolotti’s commitment to family and entrepreneurship was matched only by his dedication to community service and the Catholic faith. He served Sertoma in his young adult life in Illinois, where he held many offices and was the 1971 Sertoman of the year. He was a member of St. Bernard’s Church, where he was an integral part of helping grow and fund various causes and charities during his 42 years. Mr. Nicolotti proudly represented the Knights of Columbus. His family and friends will always remember him as an entrepreneur, a leader, a family man, an eternal optimist and a kind soul.
Mr. Nicolotti is survived by his three children; Michael (Jennifer) Nicolotti, Tricia (Rush) Roberts and Daniel (Billie) Nicolotti; and grandchildren, Karsten,Kellan, Elizabeth, Victoria, Alexander and Zachary.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Fischbein; and granddaughter, Kiera Nicolotti.
Memorials may be directed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church. Condolences may be left online at www.fitzgeraldfuneralservice.com.
