Anthony "Tony" Daniel Nolan

Anthony "Tony" Daniel Nolan died peacefully on March 6, 2022, surrounded by his loving family after a hard-fought and courageous battle with cancer. Tony was born on January 18, 1944 in Ionia, Michigan, the son of Clayton E. and Jeannine (Balice) Nolan.

Tony graduated from S.S. Peter & Paul Academy in 1962 where he enjoyed many friendships with the 23 members of his class and playing basketball. During the summers of 1959, 1960 and 1961 he attended Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. His uncle, Cletus Laux, said he would pay for his tuition at Culver if Tony would contribute to the cost from his earnings at the Ionia Kroger store. Since he only saved $109.00, he was sure it wouldn’t be enough of a contribution, but his Uncle said he had done a great job and offered to pay the tuition each year for three summers. He spoke about his time at Culver often and was very grateful for the opportunity for a chance to build character, leadership, service and responsibility, skills that would last his entire life.

He attended Aquinas College and enjoyed one year as a walk on for the Aquinas Saints basketball team and received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1966, and later attained a Master’s Degree in 1971 from Michigan State University in Counseling.

Tony was married on September 2, 1966 to Patricia Omilian, whom he met at Aquinas. They observed their 56th wedding anniversary in 2021. He enjoyed all activities with his children, especially being the basketball coach for both Cathy and Scott at Immaculate Heart of Mary School for their 7th and 8th grade basketball seasons. One of his greatest joys was watching his children, and in later years, his grandchildren participate in various activities and sports.

He was employed by the Michigan Department of Corrections for 32 years, first as a counselor at the Michigan Reformatory, and then as Assistant Deputy Warden at Riverside Correctional Facility both located in Ionia. He also taught criminal justice classes with an emphasis on social life in prison as an adjunct professor at Aquinas College and taught classes at Montcalm Community College. After retirement from the Department of Corrections in 1999, Tony accepted the position as head of security at Aquinas that he thoroughly enjoyed.

Throughout his life he enjoyed playing golf at various golf courses with his buddies and traveling with his family, especially to Orlando, Florida, where he delighted in the activities of Disney World and seeing his favorite character, Mickey Mouse, and collecting a plethora of Disney and Mickey treasures. As an avid sports fan, Tony especially enjoyed attending Michigan State and Notre Dame Football games for many years. He was a fifty year member of the Knights of Columbus fraternal service order of the Roman Catholic Church (Council #944) and was also on the Board of the Dean Lake Woods Condominiums for eight years, serving as President for four years. Tony served several years on the Aquinas Alumni Board of Directors, serving several years as Vice President and he also served on the Aquinas Historical Commission.

Tony’s mind was sharp and his recall of the past was phenomenal. When on the receiving end of one of his stories, you knew that several minutes would pass as he recalled an event with explicit detail and always with a sense of humor. He will be remembered as a man of integrity, honesty and kindness. His love of family and long-term friendships were precious gifts he cherished.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his children, Cathy (Jim) Glave and Scott Nolan; his grandchildren, Tyler and Ryan Glave and Noah and Madison Nolan. He is also survived by his sister, Jani (Tom) Millard, step brothers, Robert Dixon, Bill (Mary Lynn) Dixon, Richard Dixon and step sister, Kay (Gary) Arnold. He was predeceased by his parents and stepfather Charles Dixon; his sister and brother-in-law, Dona and David Heintzelman, and his daughter-in-law, Stephanie Nolan. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be at Reyers North Valley Chapel on March 11, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a rosary at 6:30 p.m., and one hour prior to services being held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, MI on March 12, 2022 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Tony’s memory to S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic School, 317 Baldie Street, Ionia, Michigan 48846 or to the Aquinas College Annual Scholarship Fund, 1700 Fulton Street, East, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506 or in care of Reyers North Valley Chapel.

A celebration of life will take place later in the spring at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery when burial will take place.