Obit: Nikkila, Juanita Corrine (1930 - 2009)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bergman, Freeman, Giese, Kraemer, Miller, Nikkila, Smith, Thums

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI), Thursday, February 26, 2009, Online Edition

Nikkila, Juanita “Nita” Corrine Beverly (Wiitala) (June 30, 1930 - February 18, 2009)

Juanita "Nita" Corrine Beverly Nikkila, 78, Medford, died Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Memorial Nursing Home in Medford.

Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 23 at First Lutheran Church in Ogema, with Rev. Robert Giese officiating. Interment was at Leavitt Creek Cemetery in the Town of Hill. Pallbearers were Randy Bergman, Scott Bergman, Joe Kraemer, Jim Kraemer, Dustin Freeman and Derek Bergman.

The former Juanita Wiitala was born June 30, 1930 in Rib Lake to the late Herman and Alvina (Miller) Wiitala. She attended Westboro Graded School. She worked as a waitress in Westboro and helped take care of her siblings.

On July 3, 1946 in Phillips, she married Clarence Henry Nikkila, who preceded her in death on July 6, 2000. She was a homemaker and was later employed at Gem Products and the Rib Lake Nursing Home as a nurse's aide, retiring in 1993.

She was a member of First Lutheran Church. She enjoyed flower gardening, reading, painting, ceramics, driving and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include three children, Gladys (Russell) Bergman of Ogema, Joyce (Roman) Kraemer of Medford and Michael (Marlene) of Ladysmith; two brothers, Ardin (Shirley) and Donald, both of Rib Lake; a sister, Ardene Smith of Peoria, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Violet Nikkila of Ogema; special friend, Shirley Thums of Westboro; friends at Centennial Apartments; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.