Nick Nadir Gaznawi, 72, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Born Mohammad Nader on January 1, 1954, in Herat, Afghanistan, he was a son of the late Mohsin and Fatima Gaznawi, who were from Ghazni Province.
Nick graduated in 1973 from the Afghan Institute of Technology in Kabul, where he studied Auto Mechanics Technology. In 1975, he came to the United States to continue his education in Fort Wayne, Indiana, attending Indiana Tech and Saint Francis College. He proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1990.
He began his career at Combined Insurance Company of America, where he worked his way up from salesman to District Manager. He later served as a sales manager for Select Improvement Company in Indianapolis before founding American Improvement Company in 1998. Through his home improvement business, specializing in windows, siding and roofing, Nick served homeowners throughout the Indianapolis area for almost three decades, helping families make their houses feel like home. He owned and operated the company until his passing.
Nick and Janet S. (Sanders) Ghaznawi began their life together in 1982; she survives. He loved working in his garden, where he grew tomatoes, peppers and more, and in his earlier years he enjoyed riding his bike for exercise. Nick was a well-traveled man whose journeys took him to Mexico, Amsterdam, the Philippines, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Pakistan, England, Russia and Rome. In his later years, he proudly wore shirts and hats he had made that read “Ghaznawi: An American Original,” decorated with the stars and stripes.
Survivors include his wife, Janet Ghaznawi of Indianapolis; his children, Aziza O. Ghaznawi and Jameal M. (Rachel Bates) Ghaznawi, both of Indianapolis; his grandson, Haris N. Ghaznawi; and his siblings Arif Gaznawi, Wakeel Gaznawi and Kamila Gaznawi, all of Indianapolis. He was also the brother of Khadeja, Sharif, Jamila, Masuda, Mokhtar, Nesar, Wahed and Basher Gaznawi.
In addition to his parents, Nick was preceded in death by his son, Nathan N. Ghaznawi.
Funeral Services are planned for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street in Lebanon, Indiana. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will follow services at Browns Wonder Cemetery in Lebanon.
Memorials may be directed in his memory to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences: www.MyersMortuary.com