Nicol Ashleigh (Harnish) Rakovec

Nicol Ashleigh (Harnish) Rakovec, 31, of Deer Trail, Colorado and formerly of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, passed away unexpectedly of a saddle pulmonary embolism on June 24, 2023, in Bennett, Colorado. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Weborg 21 Centre located at 2625 10^th Street in Gering, Nebraska with Pastor Andrew Griess presiding. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made in care of the family and will be designated later. Friends who wish to send flowers may like to know her favorite color was yellow. The service will be livestreamed and recorded to Nicol’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Nicol was born March 1st, 1992, in Scottsbluff to David and Valerie (Ott) Harnish. Nicol was a very happy and outgoing person from the beginning. She attended preschool at Community Christian School and spent her elementary years at St. Agnes School. She advanced to Scottsbluff Middle School and then moved to Sterling, Colorado where she was located for her freshman and sophomore years. She returned to Nebraska in 2008 and enrolled at Gering High School where she graduated with the class of 2010. Nicol acquired a love for dance while growing up and as she got older, she enjoyed several sports. She participated in volleyball, soccer, and golf while attending high school.

Nicol went on to attend Western Nebraska Community college and received an associate’s degree. She took an interest in hair and decided to proceed to the Nebraska College of Hair Design in Lincoln, Nebraska. There she ambitiously strived to become a successful cosmetologist and barber and became one of the few dual-licensed in the area. It was unmistakable the pride she took in her profession as well as her passion for making sure all her clients were taken care of and treated exceptionally well.

Many of her clients became dear friends. Nicol had a bright personality that shined upon those around her. Her easy-going personality effortlessly brought relaxation and calmness to those who sat before her in the barber chair.

She married the love of her life, Caleb Rakovec, on February 18, 2022. The couple welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world, Clara Grace Rakovec, on August 1, 2022. Clara instantly became their whole world and Nicol flourished in her role as a wife and mother.

Nicol will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and her many wonderful clients.

Survivors include her husband, Caleb Rakovec of Deer Trail, CO; ten month-old daughter, Clara Rakovec of Deer Trail, CO; mother, Valerie Ott-Harnish (Scott Wiedeman) of Scottsbluff; father, David Harnish of Scottsbluff; maternal grandmother, Maryann Ott of Gering; brother, Joshua Harnish of Scottsbluff; in-laws, Leah Paugh and Gregory Paugh of Blacklick, OH; sister-in-law, Daelyn Paugh of Blacklick, OH; brothers-in-law, Drew Rakovec of Camp Lejeune and Ronin Paugh of Blacklick, OH; uncles, Kevin Ott of Scottsbluff, Kendall Busch of Scottsbluff, Jim Harnish of FL and Dean Harnish of CO; cousins, Mariah (Dakota) Webb of Sheridan, WY, Cutler (Cassidy) Busch of Scottsbluff, Rylee (Trenton) Willey of Scottsbluff, Dexter and Clancee Ott of Scottsbluff, Scott Harnish of Minneapolis, MN, Vicky Harnish of Rapid City, SD, and Brandon, Katrina, and Dylan Harnish of CO; step-brothers, Bryce (Chelsy) Wiedeman and their son, Brooks, of North Platte and Braydon Wiedeman (Mikayla Anderson) of St. Paul, MN; step-sisters, Brittany Brown (Seth) and their two children, Tatum and Caiden of MN and Peyton Cagle of Sterling, CO; second cousins, Afton Webb of Sheridan, WY and Ember Busch of Gering; as well as other extended family members.

Nicol was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Donna Harnish; paternal grandfather, James Harnish and maternal grandfather, Jerry Ott; aunts, Tamara Ott-Busch and Natalie Williams-Ott; uncle, Donny Harnish; step-father, Chad Canchola; and youngest sister, Sofia Canchola in 2020.