Appeared in the Biwabik Times - Friday, June 20, 1947

Submitted by: Charlotte Sue (Nisen) Kibbie - csnkibbie@attbi.com 

Transcription of an obituary for John NISEN, Biwabik pioneer, submitted by his granddaughter, Charlotte Sue (NISEN) KIBBIE of Kent, Washington (18 May 2002)

Source: newspaper, "The Biwabik Times" Friday June 20, 1947, obit
Nisen, Merritt-Biwabik Pioneer, Buried Tuesday John Nisen, 83, one of the first settlers in Merritt and Biwabik, died Saturday morning, June 14, at the Biwabik hospital following an illness of several years. The deceased was born in Sweden on February 22, 1864, and in the year of 1890, in Ishpeming, Michigan, he married Mrs. Nisen who preceded
him in death in October of 1941. The following year Mr. and Mrs. Nisen
settled in the town of Merritt and after the burning of Merritt in the year
of 1893 they moved to Biwabik.
During Mr. Nisen's fifty-six years as a resident of Merritt and Biwabik he was employed as blasting foreman at the Biwabik mine retiring from this position at the age of 65. Since his retirement he has spent many hours out-of-doors, being a lover of nature; until his recent illness confined him to his home.
Survivors of the deceased include two daughters, Mrs. Henry Karki and Mrs. Steve Abbanat of Biwabik; three sons, Arvid on the West Coast; Edward of Seattle, Washington and Elmer L. of Fairbanks, Alaska; one sister, Mrs. Vendla Nelson of Chicago; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 o'clock in the Community church with the Reverend Cartwright officiating. The body was taken to the church at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning to lie in state until services. Burial was made in the Lakeside cemetery with Ed. Miners. F.M. Seeley, Walter Ostby, Frank Sederlund, Oscar F. Strom and N.P. Riley acting as casketbearers. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Graham Funeral home of Virginia.
Out-of-town relatives and friends at the funeral services were Mrs. Vendla Nelson of Chicago, Mrs. Edna Phelps of Hibbing, Mrs. Archie Phelps and daughter of Duluth, Mrs. Thomas Hall of Tower, Miss Lola Anderson of Ely, Mrs. Ralph Swenson and son Rodney of Two Harbors, Mrs. R. Heiska and children, Janell and Gary of Virginia, Mrs. George Anderson and son of Gilbert, Mrs. Madeline Abbanat, Mrs. Jennie Colletti and Mrs. Sisto Settimi, all of Aurora and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Abbanat of Virginia.
notes: He was actually born in Finland. It's Virginia, Minnesota; not the
state of Virginia. -csnkibbie


Home