Obituary of Michael Paul Nesset

Michael Paul Nesset was born in 1943 in Sioux Falls, SD, though he grew up in Lake City, IA, and was a confirmed son of West Central Iowa. He followed in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps attending Luther College in Decorah, IA, where he met and married Marian Torguson. He earned his Masters’ degree in English from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, and his PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota. He taught English at Century College in White Bear Lake, MN, until he retired in May 2013. He had two children, Sarah and Anne, to whom he was devoted.

Mike made the most of his leisure time. He had many diverse interests and passions that he loved sharing with friends. He adored music and was a season ticket holder for the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He was also a passionate amateur astronomer, and one of the highlights of his life was traveling to Missouri to see the 2017 solar eclipse. He had a garage full of what he referred to as “toys”: kayaks, a canoe, a Scamp fifth-wheel, and myriad bicycles, all to travel and enjoy the outdoors and to share with friends.

The most important part of Mike’s life was his family and friends. He was a hands-on father well before it became common - the fun dad, inventing games and songs and stories. Once his daughters had grown up, he found he had more parenting to give. He was the mentor, foster father, tutor, big brother, and adoptive grandpa to dozens of kids over the years – sometimes being adopted by entire families. If anyone praised or commended him for the time he spent with his “kids”, he would always say that he was the lucky one. And he was. These relationships gave him such joy. He was proud to be Grandpa Mike to many and foster father to Derrick Mesna.

When considering his mortality, Mike had always said that he hoped to be knocked off his bicycle at the age of 84. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that much time with him. But in the last few weeks of his life, he went for walks and bike rides, talked with his daughters, and saw good friends. He passed peacefully in his sleep 31 July 2021. As he has said to both me and my sister recently, he had a pretty good life.

Preceded in death by his parents Leone and Paul Nesset. Survived by his daughters Sarah Nesset of Minnetonka, MN and Anne Wogen (Jeff) of Auckland, New Zealand; sister Jane Senkbeil (Harold) and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 10 at 4pm with visitation starting at 3pm at St. Clement’s Church, 901 Portland Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104. Masks are requested indoors. The service will also be livestreamed on the St. Clement’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SaintClementsEpiscopal.

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower,

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind.

– William Wordsworth