Alfonse Martin Nikolaus
1912-2004

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Pioneer Memorial Methodist Church in Independence 
for longtime Owens Valley resident Alfonse Martin Nikolaus.

Al was born Sept. 21, 1912 in Colfax, Calif. to Paul and Emilie Nikolaus.  His family came to Big Pine in 1922 with 
the railroad to the narrow gauge depot just each of Big Pine.  The scenic view of the Sierra from the depot reminded 
Al’s mother, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, of the Alps in her homeland and led her to rename the depot Zurich 
after her home.

Al graduated from Big Pine High School in 1929.  While attending high school he worked as a printing apprentice for 
the Big Pine Citizen and after graduating became a manager for the Owens Valley Progress Citizen.  During this period 
Al developed with Friendship with Sierra Mountaineering Pioneer Norman Clyde while printing articles Norman submitted 
for publication.  This friendship led Al to a lifelong love of the outdoors with backpacking trips throughout the 
Sierra.

As a young man, Al yearned for adventure and took a job with Kennicott Copper in McCarthy, Alaska.  After four years 
of exploring the Alaskan frontier, he returned to Big Pine and his love of the eastern High Sierra.  On returning 
from Alaska, Al took a job with the Inyo County Road Department, where he served most of his 47 years in Independence.  
During World War II, Al served with the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Bulge and supported post war occupation 
activities.

All was an active member of the community.  He served as secretary of the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department Board of 
Commissioners for 50 years, was active member of the Inyo Masonic Lodge for 70 years, was an early president of the 
Inyo Associates, served as secretary of the Inyo-Mono Coordinating Council and shared his love of the outdoors with 
Boy Scout Troop 84 for 20 years.

Al was preceded in death by his brother, Jim, and sister, Lillian Nelson.

Al is survived by his wife of 49 years, Evelyn-Mae; son and daughter-in-law, Alfonse Martin II and Kristen; son and 
daughter-in-law, Ralph and Myra of Milpitas, Calif.; grandsons, Alfonse Martin III and Jeremy of Fallbrook; daughter 
and son-in-law, Niki and Frank Cutler; granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Megan of Quartz Hill; son and daughter-in-law Frank 
and Debbie; granddaughter, Kelsey of Big Pine; and brother, Don Nikolaus.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Al’s memory be made to Pioneer Memorial Methodist Church or the 
CARE Center at First United Methodist Church of Bishop.

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, November 25, 2004 – Page A-2.
Transcribed by Laura M. Bybee for Inyo County GenWeb, 6 June 2005