Marilyn Nickisch

Marilyn "Lyn" Lucile Merritt Nickisch, 79, of Pequot Lakes, passed away on Monday, November 11, 2013, at Senior Class Care Assisted Living in Pequot Lakes.

Lyn was born on December 5, 1933, in New Kensington, PA, to Richard and Lorrayne Merritt. She spent her childhood in Charleston, SC, before moving to Excelsior, MN, with her mother and sister, Cherry Merritt Darriau. Her mother remarried and bought Moose-O-Bay Resort on Pelican Lake, moving the family to Pequot Lakes in 1948. Lyn met Jim Nickisch when they were 15, on her first day at Pequot High School (currently the Scandia Condominium building). The high school sweethearts married on May 30, 1952. Jim became a Conservation Officer and they lived in various places around Minnesota including St. Paul, the Carlos Avery Game Refuge, Littlefork, Onamia, Long Prairie, Brainerd and Pequot.

Lyn earned an A.A. degree from Brainerd Community College, a B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and became an early childhood educator, working with the Headstart program on the Mille Lacs Reservation, The Learning Tree in Brainerd and a pre-school in Blaine, MN. She was also an accomplished artist, noted for her pastel work often based on her love of nature or Ojibwe life and artifacts. All who knew Lyn enjoyed her intelligence, creativity, kindness, and her patient and loving way of handling all that life offered.

Lyn and her family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Senior Class Care and St. Croix Hospice for their capable care. They became her comforting ‘second family.'

Lyn is survived by her husband of 61 years, Jim Nickisch, and their three children, Lauren Nickisch (C.J. Anderson) of Pequot Lakes, L.J. Nickisch (Laurie) of Salinas, CA, and Shelley Smischney of Salinas, CA.; four grandchildren, Tegan and Cherie Smischney, Kaylee Nickisch, Corrie Nickisch Clark; two great grandchildren, Akaylia Jean Sowman and Landen James Clark; and her sisters, Cherry Merritt Darriau and Janis Merritt Bethany.

A small family gathering in the spring is planned to honor her life.