Nicole Hoggan Hunsaker
Nicole Hoggan Hunsaker, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away unexpectedly on December 11, 2021, in the American Fork Hospital. She was 47 years old.
Nicole was born on August 22, 1974, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Merlynne Strong and Leroy Broadbent (Ben) Hoggan Jr. She was the sixth of seven children– Leisa, Kent, Hilary, Ron, Steve, Nicole, and Susanne. She was a happy, healthy child and enjoyed playing with her siblings, especially bouncing her little sister Suzie in her swing.
When she was four years old it was discovered that she had a serious medical condition that required her to spend two months in Primary Children’s Hospital. The doctors didn’t think she would live long enough to start kindergarten, but she showed them. Nicole was a fighter and even when she was doubled over in pain, she would make it down to the playroom to play with the toys. She not only started kindergarten, but she finished six years at Alpine Elementary School, all of Junior High School, and graduated from American Fork High School in 1992. She never let her medical problems stop her. She watched her older sisters perform with the American Fork Color Guard and wanted to follow in their footsteps. She had a little flag like theirs and practiced constantly. She tried out and when she found out that she had been accepted she was so excited. “I finally made it after eight long grueling years!” she declared. She marched with the band for three years, traveled to many competitions, and made life-long friends.
After high school she attended Stevens-Henager College in Provo to become a CNA. She remembered how much she hated having her blood drawn and she wanted to help sick children by being gentle and kind to them. She knew how they felt and had a special gift to make them feel more comfortable. She worked as a phlebotomist at Lab-Corp for 18 years. Many patients, including adults, specifically requested her. She went to work for Revere Health in 2016 and loved her co-workers and patients
She met the love of her life, Travis Hunsaker, in high school. They attended the Junior Prom together and had many good times with their families and friends. They both loved horses and Western dancing. She also loved his big family. They decided to get married in May,1995. The day she had her bridal pictures taken she had another life-threatening event and had to be airlifted to LDS Hospital. Their wedding had to be postponed until December 9, 1995. Travis has always stood by her through all her trials and has been a great support for her.
Nicole loved babies, and her fondest dream was to have children of her own. She was devastated when she learned that she would not be able to give birth. She was overjoyed when in 2001 they were miraculously given the opportunity to adopt a little girl whom they named Shelby Nicole. Shelby was the joy of their lives, and they enjoyed every moment with her. They had a couple of horses and a dog named Bandit and spent many wonderful hours riding together. When Shelby grew older, she became involved with softball. She was very talented, and Travis eventually formed a team called SWATT (Softball With ATTitude). Nicole embraced this activity wholeheartedly and considered all the girls and their parents her second family. There was never a more enthusiastic or vocal fan. Even after the team was discontinued, she continued to follow each of her “Swatt Babies”. Later she became a huge fan of football and enjoyed following the University of Utah Utes.
In 2015 Nicole’s hopes for another child were again miraculously realized when Traign Jay joined their family. He actually attended a softball game before he saw his own house. Nicole was so happy that they were blessed to have both a girl and a boy.
Tristan Madsen came into her life when he met Shelby and they began dating. Nicole accepted and loved him as a son. They were married in August 2020, which brought great joy into her life. She was thrilled beyond measure when she became a grandmother (MeMaw) when little Ember was born in August, 2021.
Nicole loved people—especially family and friends. She was generous and kind and would do anything to help those around her. She was determined and tenacious and never let obstacles stand in her way. She did not let her problems define her and kept going even when she was in pain. She looked for the good in people and found it. She was quiet and reserved around those she didn’t know but was cheerful and friendly with those she was comfortable with.
Nicole is survived by her husband, Travis, daughter, Shelby (Tristan) Madsen, son, Traign, and granddaughter, Ember Lynne Madsen; mother Merlynne Heaps, brothers and sisters, Leisa (Michael) Frost, Kent (Jackie) Hoggan, Hilary (Jeff) Bench, Ron (Meaghan) Hoggan, Steve (Daniela) Hoggan, and Suz (Sean) Beck., Terri Heaps, Corey (Carolyn) Heaps, and Julie (Rob) Shiner. Also by numerous in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews whom she loved very much. She is preceded in death by her beloved step-father, Willard L. Heaps, father, Leroy Broadbent (Ben) Hoggan Jr., father-in-law, Thomas J. Hunsaker, brother, Lane Heaps, grandparents, Ronald & Lorraine Strong and Roy & Vera Hoggan, and aunts Natalie and Janene Strong.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 1:30 pm at the Lehi 14th Ward chapel, 1175 East 900 North, Lehi, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 12:00-1:00 in the same building. There will also be a viewing on Friday, December 17, 2021, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah. Burial will be at the Alpine City Cemetery. Friends may also attend via Zoom by using the link below: