Nicholas "Nick" Alex Lake

Nicholas “Nick” Alex Lake, age 63, of Johns Island, South Carolina passed away after a short but aggressive battle with cancer in Atlanta, Georgia on August 2, 2024. Beloved husband of Martha Kruse Lake. Devoted father to Alex Nicholas Lake (Elise), Madilene Nicolle Lake, Bethany Lake King (Wil). Doting grandfather to Adelaide Skelly Lake, Eloise Sperry Lake, and Mary Caroline Fairchild Lake. Loving brother to James Alex Lake (Tammy) and John Alex Lake (Kara). Preceded in death by mother Stella Katherine Lake and father Alex James Lake. Caring uncle, cousin, mentor and friend to many.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Nick was the first person in his family to attend college and he worked diligently to pay for his education. Nick graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he later earned a Masters of Business Administration. He began his career at Procter & Gamble in the sales division, then moved to The Nielsen Company where he held many roles including Vice President of Global Service, Vice President of New Business Development and Vice President of Client Service-Beverage Alcohol. As a valued thought leader and executive in the beer industry, Nick joined Heineken USA as Senior Director of Category Management, then became Vice President of Commercial Strategy for Andrews Distributing, from where he ultimately retired in 2020.

Faith and family defined Nick’s life. Nick’s faith in God sustained him, brought him peace and allowed him to be laser locked on his priorities. Nick was blessed to have met Martha, the love of his life, at a meeting while they were both working at Procter & Gamble. It was true love at first sight, and they knew before the week-long meeting was over that they would marry. Nick and Martha were wed on October 8, 1988, and their 36-year marriage embodied the deepest love, devotion and companionship one could ever hope to experience. Throughout their marriage they called Omaha, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and both Seneca and Johns Island, South Carolina home. Though Nick was born in a cold climate, with Martha’s help he fully embraced and adopted southern weather, culture and music. Nick and Martha lived a legendary life of adventure, enjoying hiking, running, biking, kayaking, playing golf and serving others. They were inseparable. 

Nick’s family, “The Team,” was his true pride and joy. Nothing was more important to him, and he impressed upon them the value of focusing on faith and family, living with integrity, working hard, serving others and having fun. 

He had a unique bond with each of his three children, and over the years coached many of their sports teams, helped on several Boy Scout camping trips and danced at lots of Daddy Daughter dances. He drove numerous U-Haul vans, and packed and unpacked countless boxes as his children moved across the country. As they grew into young adults, he enjoyed fishing and playing golf with Alex, attending country music concerts with Madilene and spending more hours with horses at barns across the South with Bethany than he could have ever imagined. He was his children’s first call for sage counsel when it came to life and career advice, and he often responded with one of his many iconic one-liners such as, “It’s just a math problem,” “If I gave you $1M dollars, could you figure it out?” or “ Remember to work the plan.” His servant leadership and wisdom were a gift to not only his family, but also colleagues, friends, those he mentored, and Alex’s, Madilene’s and Bethany’s friends who viewed him as a role model and father-figure. 

Nick wholeheartedly welcomed Alex’s wife, Elise, and Bethany’s husband, Wil, into the family, and was thrilled to be “Papou” to “The Cutest Kids in America,” Alex’s daughters Adelaide, Eloise and Mary Caroline. They were captivated by his magic tricks, sense of humor, enthusiasm for play, and the custom doll cradles and water table he lovingly built them.

Despite a career that was marked by countless hours on planes, Nick’s priorities of faith and family never wavered. He was active in their church and found comfort and fellowship in the small groups in which he was a part, especially Fridays Faithful in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nick was a passionate golfer and loved to be on the golf course with his friends, but his most cherished golf partner was his son Alex. While golf was important to him, his ultimate favorite pastime was simply spending time at their cherished lake house on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina alongside his family. Each year the 4th of July weekend was one of the Lake family’s favorite times together. His family is so grateful that he was able to experience the perfect joy of being all together during that special holiday this year, mere weeks before his passing. Treasured times at the lake always involved him cooking breakfast, drinking coffee while chatting with the family, sitting on the dock, floating in the lake, playing golf, and captaining a sunset cocktail cruise with Martha by his side and loved ones filling his trusty yellow ski boat. His recent retirement allowed for many incredible moments like these.

Nick and Martha’s shared goal in life was to raise a loving family, and during his final moments Nick remarked he was the most blessed person in the world and that they fully achieved their goal. His faith in Jesus Christ was strong and continued to grow even during his final days. 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 17th at 11 a.m. at Johns Island Presbyterian Church located at 2550 Bohicket Road, Johns Island, South Carolina 29455. A reception will be held following the service for all out of town guests and family. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Nick Lake to Johns Island Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign, Christ’s Haven for Children in Keller, Texas, SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Appropriate Technology), and Winship Sarcoma Fund.

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