Posted: July 29, 2009 |(0) Comments

Nicole Elizabeth Hanuszczak of Appleton died July 21, 2009, at age 26 after a battle with cancer.

She was born in Clintonville on March 26, 1983, to Richard and Lorrie Reeck. She graduated from Franklin High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, majoring in journalism. She married the love of her life, Jason Hanuszczak, on Sept. 8, 2007.

Her love for animals brought in many orphaned and stray kittens. She enjoyed being outside, playing softball, basketball or volleyball, biking or catching that trophy bass on Lawrence Lake. Nicole has always loved dolphins and always dreamed about swimming with them.

What she loved doing most was writing, which she had a real gift at. Her cancer may have prevented her from doing a lot of things, but it could not stop her from writing and touching so many lives through her humorous and inspirational words on Carepages. Nicole's sense of humor and care for others helped her to make special friends wherever she was, be it in school, college, or working at the veterinarian's office in Franklin, the Milwaukee County Zoo, the YMCA in Oshkosh or Hoffmaster Co. of Oshkosh.

She is survived by her husband, Jason Hanuszczak of Appleton; parents, Richard and Lorrie Reeck of West Bend; sister, Courtney Reeck; father- and mother-in-law, Lubo and Patty Hanuszczak; grandmother, Beatrice Reeck; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial service was July 25, 2009, at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Franklin.

Memorials are suggested.

Fox Cities Funeral & Cremation Services, Oshkosh, handled the arrangements.