SOUTH PARIS — Oiva Arvo Nurmi, 87, of Otisfield, died on Monday, Dec. 20, at Market Square Health Care, where he had resided since September.
Born in Waterford on Dec. 28, 1922, he was the fourth of 13 children born to John and Elsie (Lehto) Nurmi. He was educated in Waterford, Hebron and Paris schools.
Oiva worked in several area mills and factories throughout the area, but his greatest enjoyment came from the outdoors. He started in the woods with his dad, on one end of the two-man crosscut, and was one of the first in the area to purchase a chain saw. From timber harvesting to firewood, from clearing fields to burning brush, he was meticulous in his methods. When age and health prevented him from working he continued his outdoor interests by maintaining multiple bird feeders that he enjoyed watching through his kitchen window. Identifying different species was part of the interest.
While actively involved at Deering Memorial Methodist Church, he also served as an assistant scout master. Part of his daily routine was crosswords and jumbles from the newspapers. He was always interested in current local and world events and enjoyed watching the news, “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.”
Oiva was proud of his Finnish heritage and was an active member of the Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine, where he co-chaired many public suppers with his wife, Ina, and had served as a director. Oiva also enjoyed singing. He entertained both family and staff at Market Square with songs, both Finnish and American.
Among his survivors is his widow, Ina, to whom he was married for 62 years; his daughter, Linda Andrews; sisters, Martha Flanigan and Barbara Payne; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by sons, James Bonney and Tom Nurmi; brothers, John, Olavi, William, Eugene, Edwin, Taisto and Robert; and sisters, Irene Kimball, Selma Mills and Elsie Wade.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com
A celebration of his life will be held in the spring.
Donations in Oiva’s memory may be made to the Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine, P.O. Box 294, West Paris, ME 04289.
Arrangements under the care of Oxford Hills and Weston Funeral Services, 1037 Main Street, Route 26, Oxford.