Nicholas Taylor Henzel

Nicholas Taylor Henzel, 35, passed away May 24, 2017 following a brief illness.

Nick was born December 11, 1981 to Kerri Franklin (Henzel) Ramirez and Michael Henzel.

While in High School Nick participated in ROTC and was a member of the wrestling team. After graduating from Walla Walla High school in 2000, Nick joined the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Malstrom Air Force Base, MT and Ramstein Air Base Germany. He deployed to Kuwait and Iraq serving in Security Forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his discharge from the Air Force in 2005, he was a deputy sheriff in Columbia County and joined the Walla Walla Police Department in 2012. He was a member of WACOPS, WW Police Guild, Blue Mt. Lodge #9 Fraternal Order of Police, the SWAT team and the "Cops and Kids" program. He earned an AA degree from WWCC and Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from WSU in 2011.

Nick married Cristal Ramirez in Great Falls, Montana on September 4, 2001 in a small, private ceremony. On their 15th wedding anniversary Nick and Cristal renewed their wedding vows with a formal ceremony fulfilling a promise Nick made to Cristal early in their marriage. Nick was a devoted husband to Cristal and a proud and loving father to their son Camrin and daughter Kayley.

Nick was a volunteer wrestling coach for the Waitsburg Matbirds. He enjoyed camping, fishing and CrossFit training. He was a voracious reader and a fan of Stephen King novels, having read every one of his books. Above reading, he loved movies and always had a quote line on the ready. Nick was outgoing and a friend to all. He had an awesome sense of humor and a quick wit.

In addition to his wife and children Nick is survived by his mother and stepfather, Kerri and Melito Ramirez, his father and stepmother, Michael and Sylvia Henzel and his brother Andy (Danielle) Henzel, seven stepsisters and two stepbrothers, his grandmother Carol Franklin, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and lifelong friends Robert (Elissa) Black.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Peter Henzel and Beatrice Dalton, his maternal grandfather Ron Franklin and his cousin Craig Potter.

Viewing and Visitation will be held on June 1, 2017 at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home from 11AM until 7:00PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 2nd at 11:00 at the Village Seventh Day Adventist Church, 715 SE 12th St, College Place, with Chaplain Cole Massey and Braden Anderson, Officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla Police Department's "Cops and Kids" program through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362