Robert Keith Nicholson was born October 8, 1980, and passed May 28, 2026, at the too young age of 45. Robbie was a lifelong resident of Humboldt County, growing up and living in Ferndale. He attended Ferndale Elementary School and was the first student to graduate from Ferndale High School with a commercial driver’s license.
Robbie enjoyed duck and deer hunting, as well as open ocean fishing. He looked forward to Ferndale’s annual sausage making events and always generously shared what he made, whether that was fish, meat or smoked cheese. He enjoyed barbecuing for friends and family and always had new recipes to taste test. He liked spending time in the Mattole Valley and playing cribbage (especially when money was on the line). Robbie was a loyal Oakland Raiders fan.
Robbie enjoyed driving milk truck, where he could collect and share stories. His favorite job was working in the woods with Will Davie. Logging and operating heavy equipment were what he liked best, and he was fortunate enough to get to do that for a living.
You might not guess it, but Robbie enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews, especially after they were old enough to walk and talk. He would play games, spoil them with cookies and loved to teach them bad habits. His black labradors Pete and Spooky were his children, whom he has now been reunited with.
Robert was preceded in death by his grandparents Keith and Helen Nicholson, Robert and Ida Petersen, and uncle David Nicholson. He is survived by his parents Larry and Helene Nicholson, his siblings Rick Nicholson (Janis), Becky Bethurum (Tim), Laurie Guggenbickler (David), and Leslie Nicholson, his nephews Cody (Thomas) and Evan, and nieces Andrea (Tyler) and Janelle (Cohyn), great nephew Silas, and numerous cousins.
A celebration of Robbie’s life will be held Saturday, July 11th at 1:00pm at the Ferndale Veteran’s Hall. The family would like to thank the community for their support. Donations in his memory can be made to Donor Network West – https://www.donornetworkwest.org