Richard Charles Nesja, 82, formerly of Eleva, WI died Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at home in Altoona, WI. Richard was born at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Otto (Ben) and Esther Nesja. He grew up on a farm south of Eddy Lane, on the north side of Eau Claire, with his little brother David.

Richard attended Sam Davey Elementary, Central Junior High and graduated from Memorial High School in 1959. He also earned an associate degree in electronics and a first-class radio-telephone license with radar endorsement from Eau Claire Technical College (now CVTC). Richard was involved in Cub Scouts for two years and in the Boy Scouts of America for seven years, earning 36 merit badges, his Eagle award in May 1956, the bronze, silver, and gold palm awards, the Pro Deo et Patria and the Order of the Arrow. In addition, he received an outstanding leadership recognition for his contributions to Troop 40. In high school, Richard was involved with several clubs involving electronics, radios, projectors and photography. He helped build and maintain the PA system at Carson Park for high school and Wisconsin State College football games. He was the repairman at school for anything electronic. He was awarded perfect attendance for four years of high school. After high school, he worked for Birch Street TV Repair Shop, Star Tube Co. and WEAQ radio studio & transmitter as a repair technician.

He was united in marriage on December 21, 1963 to Sylvia Grace Rundhaug in the beautiful Baldwin church and they moved to Superior, Wisconsin. They were married for almost 59 years. To this union, two daughters were born, Jorunn Ann in 1964 and Jodi Lynne in 1968.

Richard took a job at Duluth Avionics - Litton Industries in July 1963 as an electronic testing specialist for governmental navigation systems and radar. In 1970, Richard took a job at Rassbach Communications and moved the family to the Nesja family homestead in rural Eau Claire County, building their new home. He retired from Air Communications in 2006 on his 65th birthday after working there over 25 years. Richard was always tinkering with electronics that needed to be fixed. When the printer power supply on the computer stopped working, he hooked it up to a car battery in the basement so Sylvia could print the remaining Broiler Fest postcards. His theory was, why buy a new printer if it just needed a power source. He was also a licensed amateur radio operator, call sign WD9IJV, and he enjoyed talking radio with other local operators.

Richard is survived by his daughters, Jorunn Berg and Jodi (Grant) McElwaine, two grandchildren, Devin (Lauren) Berg and McKayla (David Bemis) McElwaine, and great-grandchildren, Nora and Olin Berg. He is further survived by brother-in-law Paul (Ann) Rundhaug, nieces Charlene (Robert) Page, Susan (Scott) Conradson, Victoria Nesja and nephew Doug (Rosabel) Nesja; grandnieces and nephews, Katy and Thomas Page, Erica Conradson, Wyatt Nesja, Emmah and June Nesja; sister-in-law, Donna Nesja and many other cousins, friends, neighbors, and family. Richard will be met in heaven by his wife Sylvia, brother David, two baby brothers, his parents Ben and Esther and stepmother Hazel, brother-in-law Ken, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors. Finally, Richard will join his beloved pets Maggie, Jack, Kandie, Cardinal, Raven and so many others who have crossed the rainbow bridge ahead of him.

A celebration of life will be held August 19, 2023 at the pavilion next to the Eleva Historical Society Museum at 50713 Bratberg St, Eleva, WI 54738 from 4-6 pm. A picnic dinner will be served. Internment will follow at Northside Lutheran Cemetery at 1900 Omaha St, Eau Claire, WI 54703 on August 19th at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Eleva Lutheran Church, Boy Scouts of America, or a charity of your choice.

https://www.kjentvet-smithfuneralhome.com/