Nolan V Ransdell Obituary (1928 - 2023)

Nolan V. Ransdell 94, of Brawley, passed peacefully at his home on May 28, 2023. -Born May 31, 1928, in Mexico MO. -Age 10 moved to Imperial Valley with family. -1946 Brawley Union High School graduate. -Married Oleta Hanson in 1946. Began a family of 3 girls: Ebbie, Debbie, and Juanita. -Ransdell Refrigeration for 25 years. Nolan chose a 'cooler' career. -1963 New career with Lucas Bookkeeping while completing accounting degree through Berkeley. Owned accounting business for 50+ years. -Enjoyed hunting. Trained Buster "Best Damn Dog." -Avid bowler, leagues, various state tournaments, and family time. At age 87 began Wii Bowling, and bowled a perfect '300' game over 100 times. -1976 Private pilot license "Joy of his Life!" In 1980 Piloting his Cessna 182 engine quit over Holtville, and landed safely in Brawley. "I replaced the engine and my underpants." -1988 Boulevard property became "Home away from Home." A place to escape summer heat and see a touch of snow. -1988 1st major heart attack, 2nd one 10 years later, along with multiple other heart procedures. He beat them all and made it 3 days shy of 95. -2000 Oleta, his life's love, passed away. He found solace in poetry... "Guess I was a Poet and didn't know it." He penned over 55 poems with 2 published. -2002-2015 He enjoyed many Midwest road trips with his daughters. He visited Crazy Horse Monument, Sturgis, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Jelly Stone, Canada, and Vegas where he rode horseback for the first time on a trail. -Saw Lion King and Phantom of the Opera live in Hollywood and San Diego. -2016 Moved to Fairwinds Retirement Community in Oceanside, CA. He became known as 'The Joke telling Sheriff of Fairwinds'. Experienced fun times riding a mechanical bull. -2021 Returned to Brawley, "I want to be Home to go Home!" he reconnected with wonderful life-long friends. -2023, May 28th, Alas, he's home, Bless this beautiful soul. Preceded in death by his father, brother, and sister. Also daughter Deborah and wife of 54 years, Oleta. Survived by daughters, Evelynn (Dennis) and Juanita (Dave). Grandchildren: Cameron, Jason, Craig, Allison, and Ashley. 6 step-grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.