Mrs. Nicole Oppold

Nicole Lee (Stierle) Bradshaw - Oppold, age 50, of Atlantic, IA, passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Atlantic Specialty Care.

Nicole Lee was born on August 1, 1972, in Harlan, IA to Rolf and Sharon (Esbeck) Stierle. Nicole’s older sister Sonya welcomed her home.

In her younger years, she attended the Elk Horn School, then Exira School. In her teen years, her dad married Llesa Pedersen, at that time was when Nicole acquired a “bonus mom”. During Nicole’s working years, she devoted herself as a CNA. She worked at various care centers in Atlantic and Southwest Iowa.

In 2005, Nicole and Troy Bradshaw were united in marriage. Together they were foster parents with the hopes of adopting. That wish came true when they were blessed to adopt their daughter Lilee. She was Nicole’s dream daughter as she loved children. In 2018, Nicole and Gary Oppold were married. Through this union, Nicole gained a stepdaughter, Karen, and the two became great friends.

Nicole dearly loved her dog Baby. She enjoyed collecting, Betty Boop, Dreamsicle angel figurines, and butterflies. Nicole dealt with various health struggles in her life. She had the lives of 5 or 6 cats (x9). She did not like to complain and was a trooper throughout.

Nicole is survived by her biological mother, Sharon Esbeck; her daughter, Lilee; her mom, Llesa Stierle; her sister Sonya Marson and her wife MaryAnn; stepdaughter Karen Oppold; many aunts and uncles, including two aunts and a uncle living in Germany; special aunts Cindy (Ted) Goodner, and Llala (John) Klein; and many cousins and other family and friends.

Preceded in Nicole’s death was her husband Gary Oppold; her father, Rolf Stierle; grandparents Robert and Veta Esbeck, Werner Kohler, Elsa Stierle, Lloyd (Norma Jean) Pedersen; her uncle Ryck Pedersen; and many more aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Memorials may be directed to the family at this time to be directed at a later date to many of Nicole’s favorited charities and local organizations and may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.