Funeral services for Nicola (Nikki) Buchanan, of Glenville, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church. The Rev. John Bromeland will officiate. Interment will be in the State Line Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Nikki died on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 61 years old.
Nicola Jo Studier was born on June 21, 1947, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Rudolph and Anne Studier. Nikki spent her childhood in Glenville. She attended and was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle. She began playing the piano at an early age and played the clarinet for the Glenville School Band and participated in the All-State Band. She was a cheerleader throughout high school and also sang in the choir. She graduated from Glenville High School as class valedictorian in 1965. Following high school, she attended Naeve Hospital School of Nursing to become a registered nurse and graduated in 1968 as the class valedictorian.
On July 8, 1967, Nikki married her high school sweetheart, Brent Buchanan, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They lived on the Buchanan family farm near Gordonsville for their 41 years of marriage. Nikki worked at Naeve Hospital for several years and then stayed home to raise their five children. In 1989, Nikki graduated from Metropolitan State University with a bachelor of arts degree. In 1993 she graduated from Mankato State University with a master of science degree in psychology. Nikki worked as a supervising RN for Morning Star Home Health in Albert Lea from 1999 to 2008.
Nikki was a gifted pianist and music was a large part of her life. She and Brent led the music/worship at Philadelphia Christian Center in Albert Lea for 18 years. She worked as the contemporary music leader at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea from 2000 to 2008. Nikki had a passion for Bible study and throughout her life, taught many Bible classes. Her deep faith and love for Jesus inspired many throughout her lifetime. Nikki also loved to travel, camp, and spend time with her family.
Survivors include her husband, Brent; five children: Dawn (Chip) Hall of Glenville, Cari (Jeff) Broitzman of Jackson, Wyatt Buchanan of Albert Lea, Anne (Josh) Wegner of Albert Lea, and Luke (Amanda) Buchanan of Glenville; 14 grandchildren: Erica, Andrea, and Alayna Hall, Levi, Evan, and Holden Broitzman, Hannah, Nathan, and Abbey Buchanan, Isabelle and Olivia Wegner, Chelsey Morrow, and Bryson and Cindy Buchanan; great-granddaughter, Faith Hall; mother, Anne (Tony) Chavez of Albert Lea; siblings: Randy (Sue) Studier, Jane (Eddie) Pecora, Tim (Sandy) Studier, Angie (Nick) Olson, Dan (Cathy) Studier, Lori Studier, and Jill (Paul) Hagen; sisters-in-law: Sharyl Lunde and Sue (Jerry) Lee; and many nieces and nephews.
Nikki was preceded in death by her father, Rudolph Studier.