Nathan Nakis was taken from this earth on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 while serving his country in Mosul, Iraq. Nathan was the driver of a transport vehicle, and was killed when the vehicle crashed while attempting to avoid a hazard.
Nathan was born in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, on April 12, 1984. He attended school in Sedro-Woolley and graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 2002. He was active in symphonic and pep band, club and school soccer, cross country running, and wrestling. He also participated in pier groups such as Natural Helpers and Renaissance. He was a good student who maintained a 3.75 GPA, and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Nathan was always very active in the Boy Scouts of America. He began as a Cub Scout in the second grade and earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm in 2001. He was a member of the Order of the Arrow, the National Eagle Association, and a staff member at Camp Black Mountain in Whatcom County, WA. Nathan’s home unit is Troop 67 4067 from Sedro-Woolley, WA.
In January of 2003 Nathan enrolled at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, in the School of Forestry. It was his goal to earn a dual degree in Forest Engineering/Civil Engineering.
Nathan enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2001. He completed his basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 2002. After moving to Oregon, Nathan transferred to B Company, 52nd Combat Engineers Heavy, based in Albany, Oregon. In February 2003 the 52nd Engineers were called to active duty and deployed to Fort Carson, Colorado, for training to deploy overseas. In April they deployed to Kuwait, and in May they moved to Mosul, Iraq, where they are currently attached in support of the 101st Airborne Division. Nathan was considered a model soldier by his fellow troopers, and was happy doing his duty in the effort to rebuild the country of Iraq. His unit has been involved in a variety of civil projects including housing projects, athletic fields, road construction, and water systems, as well as improvements to the bases housing our service people in Mosul. He had also recently completed airborne assault training with the 101st and finished near the top of the class. At the time of his death Nathan held the rank of Specialist.
Nathan had a beautiful spirit. He loved people and held no bias. He accepted all people as they were. He loved the outdoors, music, and using his talents to create realities from the dreams he shared with his many friends. He loved and served his family, his community, and his nation with pride and honor. He personified the aspirations of the Scouting Movement. He was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.
Nathan is survived by his mother and father, Elinor and Arty Nakis of Sedro-Woolley and his brother, Nic, of Seattle. His grandmother, Deborah Nakis, and uncle, John Nakis, of Rowley, Massachusetts, great-aunt, Lorraine Jones, and her partner, Glenn, of Everett, WA, aunts Anne Nakis of Turner’s Falls, MA and Connie Shauer of Mt. Vernon, WA, uncle Mike Hysell of Burlington, WA, and cousins Alysan Nakis, Stephen Hysell, Michael Hysell, David Hysell, Rob Hysell, Adam Perez, and Cara Saragena. His grandfather, William C. Nakis, of Rowley, MA, his grandmother, Veneta Curran, of Mt. Vernon, WA and his grandfather, Fred Cryder, of Atascadero, CA preceded him in death.
In addition, Nathan is survived by his extended family of friends in the community of Sedro-Woolley, his fellow soldiers from B Company in Oregon, and his Scouting family throughout Washington. His family cannot fully express the depth of gratitude and appreciation they feel for the love and support of all who had the joy of knowing Nathan.
A private family interment service will be held at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery.
There will be a public memorial service to celebrate Nathan’s life at 2:00 PM on Saturday December 27, 2003 at the Sedro-Woolley High School gymnasium. The family would like all members of the Boy Scouts of America and the U.S. Armed Forces who choose to attend to come in uniform. All gifts and remembrances should be sent to the Nathan Nakis Memorial Fund in care of any branch of Skagit State Bank. Share memories of Nathan and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com