Nikki Dale Olinghouse

Nikki Dale Annin was born on July 7, 1952, in Portland, Oregon to Erwin and Alice Annin. She was the first daughter in a family that became a total of seven sons and four daughters. All together there was Larry, Albert, also known as “Butch”, Raymond, John, also known as “Jack”, Dennis, Kim, Nikki, Debby, David, Patty, and Dana. A Gesler and Annin clan, “yours, mine, and ours” household. Around 1956 Nikki and the family moved to southern California in the Newport Beach area. One of the more memorable homes they lived in had a backyard of sand with the ocean beyond. The family also spent time in Costa Mesa, California and then moved to Concord in the San Francisco Bay area. Shortly after in 1964, Nikki’s father, Erwin, passed away due to heart failure. Nikki attended elementary and high school in Concord until the family moved in 1970 to Portland, Oregon. On June 4th, 1971 Nikki graduated from Battleground High School in Vancouver, Washington. She worked the next few years for a charily for the disabled and babysat for a family friend. In 1975 she gave birth to Joshua Wakefield Annin on April 22nd. He brought such joy and entertainment for one and all to the household. For many years he was her chosen occupation. Around 1998 Nikki attended Mt. Hood Community College studying accounting. She had a gift for doing taxes and a head for business. On July 21st, 2000 she had her first date with the love of her life, John Olinghouse, at the Original Taco House on 82nd avenue in Portland. An absolute match made in heaven. A little over a year later they were married in a family backyard ceremony with her dear cousin, Father Scott Troyer officiating. For the years that followed Nikki worked for the State of Oregon as an office specialist and a medical assistant specialist. She also worked for Network One, which specialized in internet technologies. Because of her health Nikki had to leave her work-life to take care of herself. She persevered and was very brave and tried to live a normal life. In 2021 she had a stroke which left speech and memory struggles. On February 14th, 2023, Nikki had a seizure in her brain that damaged her cognitive skills. She ended up in long term memory care in McMinnville, Oregon. She struggled and endured a living hell, until the day she passed on November 3rd, 2023, a fate undeserving for someone such as Nikki. She left behind the love of her life, John, who made her the happiest she’d ever been, siblings who loved her with all their hearts, her one and only child, Joshua, that had a place in her heart that only he could fill, other family that adored her and her grandchildren and great grandchildren that she absolutely cherished and beamed with joy when in their company, and dear friends she treasured. She was good and kind all her life and the hole left in our heart is heavy and deep.

Nikki Dale Olinghouse

July 7, 1952 - November 3, 2023