“It is Jesus that you seek when you
dream of happiness; He is waiting for
you when nothing else you find satisfies
you; He is the beauty to which you are so
attracted; it is He who provoked you with
that thirst for fullness that will not let you
settle for compromise; it is He who urges
you to shed the masks of a false life; it is
He who reads in your heart your most
genuine choices, the choices that others
try to stifle.” - St. Pope John Paul II
Brodie Nikolai
On Wednesday, 08 May 2019, at the way-
to-early age of 16, Brodie entered the gates
of heaven as a result of complications from
brain cancer that he battled with true
courage, inspiration, humor and dignity since
the summer of 2017.
Brodie was a loving son to his caring and
devoted parents, Stoli and Katie Nikolai
and the best big brother his three adoring
younger sisters; Rylie (14), Brynlie (12) and
Preslie (9) could ever imagined. He also
leaves his maternal grandparents, Mike and
Trish Newton; and his paternal grandfather,
Dr. Tom Nikolai. Brodie is also survived by
his Godfather, John Nikolai; his
Godmother, Shane Gridley; his close
friends Charles Heinbaugh, Andrew Poe
and Tommy Berns; and numerous dear
aunts and uncles, awesome cousins and
scores of friends his life touched to make
their lives that much better. Brodie was
predeceased by his paternal Grandma
Hilda Nikolai and Uncle Timmy, whom
welcomed him into heaven with immense joy
and open hearts.
As the first addition to a loving and nomadic
Air Force family, Brodie lived in numerous
locations since his birth at Nellis AFB in
Las Vegas, Nevada. For example, his next
stop was Monterey, California where he
captured the heart of his adoring “Aunt”
Victoria Carns and was blessed with the
birth of his first sister and best friend, Rylie
Paige. Following his California stint, Brodie
moved on to Anchorage, Alaska where he
had several near-miss encounters with unruly
moose while romping in his first taste of
snow. In Germany, “Team Brodie” was
completed with the arrival of his treasured
sisters, Brynlie Katherine and Preslie
Grace. Brodie also began his fluency in the
German language, gained an attraction to
Air Force values and learned the art of
spraying his dad down with a high-pressure
fire extinguisher as is the tradition after final
flights in fighter aircraft. Now full of
schnitzel, pommes frittes (German “French
fries”) and European culture, Brodie
entered the world of Alabama filled with
college football fanatics and southern
“twang”. After surviving Montgomery,
Brodie truly hit his stride in our Nation’s
Capitol Region while living in Springfield,
Virginia. He developed lasting friendships
with Charles, Andrew and Joschka, while
further refining his German language and
soccer skills as a key player on his 3-time
championship soccer team. He also
discovered his passion for firearms and
hunting with trips to Wisconsin and his
introduction to the Nikolai Deer Hunting
Camp experience. Post-Air Force life
found Brodie in Onalaska, Wisconsin
where he met another best friend and true
wingman, Tommy Berns while continuing to
excel in soccer and enjoy the Wisconsin
outdoors.
After his cancer diagnosis, Brodie made a
tenuous road trip out to Colorado with his
dad and best wingman ever, AF Chief
Master Sergeant Phil “Wolf Chief”
Robinson before being rejoined with Mom
and his sisters a week later as he continued
his cancer battle while living with his family in
Uncle Patrick and Aunt Ashley’s house
along with his three young and admiring
cousins; Brice, William and Joseph. As
horrendous as Brodie’s battle with cancer
was, he beyond doubt thwarted its evil intent
by touching, redefining, inspiring and
changing so many lives during his nearly 2-
year odyssey by bringing so many closer to
his savior, Jesus Christ. The true testimony
of the infinite love for Brodie and how he
had such a redefining positive influence on
so many was evidenced by the genesis of
“TEAM BRODIE” that consisted of
tens-of-thousands praying for him all over
the globe; the many, many people who sent
him cards, photos, packages, gifts, words of
encouragement and inspiration; as well as all
those who spent so much time and effort
helping take care of his family during his
roller coaster of a journey.
Brodie was truly a “one-in-a-billion” type of
character. He was an avid sports and
outdoor enthusiast and inherited his dad’s
passion for the Green Bay Packers to the
chagrin of his Denver Broncos-loving
mother. He was an origami guru, an amazing
sketch artist, avid video gamer, inspiring
musical “beat boxer” and rapper
extraordinaire, crack marksman with an itchy
trigger finger, all-star soccer player, power
tool enthusiast, humble humorist and just an
all-around phenomenal Christian young man,
son, brother, nephew, cousin, classmate,
teammate and friend whose “kind soul”
attracted the love and accolades of all.
Brodie was a dutiful son to his mom and dad
and “best big brother ever” to his beloved
sisters. He was also dedicated to his friends
and cousins while demonstrating true
compassion and kindness for all he met. He
once revealed, “I feel people’s highest highs
and lowest lows” - and his heart was
incredibly big enough to accommodate and
care for all – ready and willing at a moment’s
notice, to drop everything to demonstrate
the depths of God’s love.
Godspeed my son, your spirit was truly
unstoppable and you will be forever missed.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted
to Olinger Hampden Mortuary, 8600 E
Hampden Avenue, Denver, Colorado with
a visitation from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, 13
May 2019. Brodie’s Funeral Mass will be
offered at 10:30 am on Tuesday, 14 May
2019 at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic
Church, 18000 E Arapahoe Road,
Foxfield, Colorado, with a reception
immediately following at Our Lady of
Loreto Catholic School.
February 3rd, 2003
- May 8th 2019
Memorial