William L. Nissen, Sr.

William L. Bill Nissen, Sr. 67 of Clay Center, Ohio died Saturday, May 16, 2009 in the Edward & Marion Knight Hospice Center, Perrysburg, Ohio. Bill was born in Genoa, in his grandmother Padgetts home, Ohio to Lyle J. Sr. and Christine W. Padgett Nissen on December 2, 1941. He married Starla F. Teems in Genoa on April 6, 1963 and she survives. Bill had worked for the Toledo Edison Co. for 27 years, when he retired he was the Fire Safety Coordinator for the Davis-Bessie Nuclear Power plant. He had also worked at the Bayshore plant and the Acme plant. Bill was a dedicated fireman for his whole adult life. He started his firemans career as a volunteer at the Clay-Genoa Station from 1963-1966 and in 1966 transferred to the Clay Center fire Station. Starting in 1981 until 1999, Bill was the Fire Chief at the Clay Center station. In 1999 Bill, and others, were instrumental in merging the three fire stations of Clay Center, Clay-Genoa, and the Allen Township fire stations into what is now known as the Allen-Clay Joint Fire District. Bill served as its first fiscal officer from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. Bill loved baseball and was a Little League coach from 1972-1981; he also served as treasurer for the organization for many years. Bill coached womens softball in Clay Center for several years. He enjoyed being outside and for many years took care of the Genoa High School baseball field, something he took great pride in. Gardening was a favorite pastime and he shared his bounty with all of the neighbors. Bill in the last few years also enjoyed mowing grass for the Allen Township Trustees. He took great pride in his community and on the 125 anniversary of Clay Center he and his wife worked to compile a book of its history and chaired a celebration committee. A memorial service for Bill will be conducted at 11 AM, Thursday, May 21, 2009 in St. Johns United Church of Christ in Genoa. The Allen-Clay Joint Fire District will conduct a Firemans service in conjunction with the memorial service. Visitation will be in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, Genoa, from 6-8 PM, Tuesday, May 19, and from 2-4 & 6-8 PM on Wednesday. The family suggests memorials, in Bills name, to the fire department, or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, OH.