Obituary of Harold Franklin Nisson

Harold (Frank) Nisson passed away peacefully on the morning of August 5th at the age of 96.  Frank was born in the Central Valley, near Ceres, CA, and was the youngest of five children.  He had many fascinating stories to tell about growing up on his family’s 40-acre farm, and as Frank would say “…some of them are true.”  When World War II broke out, Frank enlisted in the NAVY, serving in both the Pacific and European theatres as a motor machinist mate second class.  During that time, he was awarded five battle stars.  After the war ended, Frank became an electrician, and married and raised two children, Greta Nisson and Paul ‘Burdoc’ (Ami) Nisson.  In 1970, Frank moved his family to Santa Cruz.  In 1975, Frank worked as a maintenance lead at the newly built county courthouse, where he met and then married Carol Collins.  They were married for thirty years, sharing a deep love for family, friends, Dixieland Jazz music, the local Silver Dolphins Swim Club, theatre, art, local events, and travel.  In 1989, Frank retired from the Sheet Metal Worker’s Union as a heating and air conditioning service engineer.  Frank will be most remembered for his prize-winning junk art sculptures, his jokes that made you smile, riding his “bicycle built for two” art sculpture in the Aptos World’s Shortest Parade, volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club and for the Red Cross Disaster Relief, singing Barbershop Quartet, and for his ability to fix just about anything.  Frank is survived by his children, stepchildren Tim (Pam) Collins, Peggy (Wayne) Overbeck, and Bruce (Sue) Collins, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.  Near the end of Frank’s life, he expressed much gratitude for his family, as he continued to remind us to live in the moment (never buy green bananas), count our many blessings, and never fret because God is in control.  Franklin will be dearly missed, but we know that he is dancing with the angels!  A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Mid-County Senior Center, 829 Bay Avenue, Capitola, on September 30th at 11:30 a.m.

 

 

 

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A Memorial Tree was planted for Harold
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel