Obituary of Nickolas Even Westman

Nickolas Even Westman, patent attorney, aviator, avid gardener, craftsman, and much loved husband, father and grandfather, died at age 87 on Saturday, July 6, 2019, surrounded by his family. Born on a farm outside of Aneta, North Dakota June 22, 1932. Nick is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Sharon (Evenson), his sisters Connie, Nola, brother Owen, children Dean (Bonnie), Nichole Lewis, Kelly (Dyan), and Marit (Tim) Zosel, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Nick attended North Dakota State University where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. Nick met Sharon on campus and signed up for her Home Economics class to get closer to her. She said no to the first date but yes to the second. Sharon liked to lovingly remind Nick that he was voted "Ugliest Man on Campus." But his charm and looks grew on Sharon, and they were married March 19, 1955 moving to Minneapolis shortly thereafter. While working his first job at Minneapolis Moline in Hopkins, Minnesota, Nick attended the St. Paul College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law). He started his illustrious career as an intellectual property attorney by joining the firm Duggar, Braddock and Johnson. Nick went on to start two more intellectual property law firms in Minneapolis. During his long career, Nick was named a "Super Lawyer" from 2000-2013 and did work for local companies such as MTS Systems, Rosemount Engineering, Melrose Company (maker of Bobcat) and Menards, as well as other companies around the nation and world. A founding member of Kinney, Lange, Westman and Fairbairn, now Kinney and Lange, at age 65, Nick started the firm Westman Champlin and Kelly, now Westman Champlin and Koehler. Nick shared his career with his loyal administrative assistant of 47 years, Doreen Berning. Nick retired from the active practice of law at age 80, but continued his involvement and advised until the week before his death. He was a mentor to many in the Intellectual Property Law community and served as a president of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association. As a young man, Nick learned to fly airplanes and flying was a life long passion of his. He made several long journeys, such as flying the Lewis and Clark trail, to Washington DC and back and forth to the home farm in North Dakota. One of his greatest accomplishments was visiting every local and regional airport in Minnesota, documented in his blog "The Flying Grandpa". Nick was a farmer at heart and loved to garden. He shared his bountiful crops of tomatoes with his family every summer. Nick and Sharon enjoyed creative pursuits together and decorated their home and yard with paintings by Sharon and wrought iron sculpture by Nick. He reveled in his family life, which was filled with children, grandchildren and a great grandchild, motorcycles, used sports cars, horses, dogs, cats, birds and even a pet skunk. Nick loved to take his family on wild rides and lead them in adventures by train, plane, automobile and cruise ship. He was known to attend every recital, concert, and sporting event of each grandchild. He will be missed as a guaranteed supporter at these events. A long time member of Eden Prairie United Methodist Church, and later Wayzata Community Church. Nick and Sharon made many life long friends there. A Memorial Service will be held at Wayzata Community Church on September 20, 2019 at 11 am. Donations in Nick's honor can be made to NC Little Hospice, Wayzata Community Church or Mitchell Hamline College of Law. To Succeed Ralph Waldo Emerson To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.