Obituary for SWEN MARVIN NURKALA
Swen Marvin Nurkala, 88, longtime Negaunee resident, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, April 2, 2022 at UP Health System Marquette under the loving care of UP Home Health & Hospice.
Swen was born at home in Watton, MI to Victor and Lempi (Jarvimaki) Nurkala, attended elementary school in Watton and graduated from L’Anse High School. He continued his education at Suomi College and received a two-year business degree before being drafted into the United States Army, where he was stationed at bases in the US and in the Panama Canal zone during the Korean War. Following his service to his country he returned home and earned his degree in education from Northern Michigan University, and taught art and coached track in Cicero, IL for a year.
Swen married Martha Haukkala of Wakefield in 1961, and together they moved downstate where he taught in Dowagiac for four years while taking classes at Northwood Institute and the University of Michigan during the summers. They relocated to Negaunee where he taught art in the Negaunee Public Schools for over 20 years.
Mr. Nurkala was an active and devout member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, where he sat on the church council and was active with the men’s group and the men’s camp outings. He also did several art pieces for the church over the years. Swen was a member of the American Legion, Post #114, Greenwood, and a life member of the NEA and MEA.
Art was a very important part of Swen’s life. He enjoyed painting, charcoal art, photography and ceramics. Most recently, he loved the sunsets over Teal Lake and the geese roaming around it, which provided him both entertainment and scenes for his artwork to flourish.
Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Martha Nurkala of Negaunee; his daughter, Kariina Persyn, her husband, David and their son, Ordway of Denham Springs, LA; his son, Vance (Sandy Lincoln) Nurkala of Tacoma, WA; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Konstu Salli; five sisters and four brothers; and nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to all those who helped care for Swen, including: Bell Family Medicine, especially Jeremy Steele, PAC and his nurse, Bobbi and staff; UP Home Health & Hospice; the doctors and nurses at UP Health Systems Bell and Marquette and the Fair Ave. Medical Center; his neighbors and tenants at Teal Lake Apartments; the members of Trinity Lutheran Church; and to nieces, nephews, and relatives from the Nurkala, Lahti and Haukkala families that helped in so many different ways over the years.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 7th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, with Rev. Steve Weston officiating. Interment will be in the Negaunee Cemetery. The family will greet relatives for fellowship, desserts and coffee immediately following services in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Swen’s memory may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 414 E. Ridge St., Ishpeming, MI 49849, and can be designated for youth activities.
Mr. Nurkala’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com
Swen was born at home in Watton, MI to Victor and Lempi (Jarvimaki) Nurkala, attended elementary school in Watton and graduated from L’Anse High School. He continued his education at Suomi College and received a two-year business degree before being drafted into the United States Army, where he was stationed at bases in the US and in the Panama Canal zone during the Korean War. Following his service to his country he returned home and earned his degree in education from Northern Michigan University, and taught art and coached track in Cicero, IL for a year.
Swen married Martha Haukkala of Wakefield in 1961, and together they moved downstate where he taught in Dowagiac for four years while taking classes at Northwood Institute and the University of Michigan during the summers. They relocated to Negaunee where he taught art in the Negaunee Public Schools for over 20 years.
Mr. Nurkala was an active and devout member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, where he sat on the church council and was active with the men’s group and the men’s camp outings. He also did several art pieces for the church over the years. Swen was a member of the American Legion, Post #114, Greenwood, and a life member of the NEA and MEA.
Art was a very important part of Swen’s life. He enjoyed painting, charcoal art, photography and ceramics. Most recently, he loved the sunsets over Teal Lake and the geese roaming around it, which provided him both entertainment and scenes for his artwork to flourish.
Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Martha Nurkala of Negaunee; his daughter, Kariina Persyn, her husband, David and their son, Ordway of Denham Springs, LA; his son, Vance (Sandy Lincoln) Nurkala of Tacoma, WA; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Konstu Salli; five sisters and four brothers; and nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to all those who helped care for Swen, including: Bell Family Medicine, especially Jeremy Steele, PAC and his nurse, Bobbi and staff; UP Home Health & Hospice; the doctors and nurses at UP Health Systems Bell and Marquette and the Fair Ave. Medical Center; his neighbors and tenants at Teal Lake Apartments; the members of Trinity Lutheran Church; and to nieces, nephews, and relatives from the Nurkala, Lahti and Haukkala families that helped in so many different ways over the years.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 7th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, with Rev. Steve Weston officiating. Interment will be in the Negaunee Cemetery. The family will greet relatives for fellowship, desserts and coffee immediately following services in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Swen’s memory may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 414 E. Ridge St., Ishpeming, MI 49849, and can be designated for youth activities.
Mr. Nurkala’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com