Donald John Nurmi, Jr.

Don was born in Ishpeming, Michigan, to the late Donald John Nurmi, Sr. and Janet Elaine Champion Nurmi. Don lost his mother at the age of 3 to heart disease. Several years later Don, Sr. married Lempi Wiig Aird and Don Jr. gained 2 brothers, Jim Aird and later brother, Wayne.

Don and his sister, Elaine, were raised by their grandparents, Sam and Fanny Nurmi, on the Nurmi farm in Eagle Mills, Michigan, where Don enjoyed fishing, hunting and doing various farm chores like driving the tractor, operating machinery, making hay, picking potatoes and rounding up the cows for milking with the help of dog, Sheppie.

Don graduated from Negaunee High School in 1958 and enlisted in the Air Force upon graduation. He’d planned a career as a Mechanic but after a visit to his High School by the Air Force personnel, he was given Top Security Clearance and placed in to Communications. He remained in Communications his entire Air Force service time of 26 years, receiving many distinguished honors and medals for his service, as well as, earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. Being fluent in English, Finnish, Italian and German, helped him during his years of service in Communications. Don attained the rank of Chief Master Sgt.

Don enjoyed his many travels to various countries that included Spain, England, Ireland and Finland. Assignments with the service, he traveled to the Aleutians, Azores, Okinawa, Germany, Turkey and Italy and numerous US base assignments. It was during his first Italy assignment, that he met and married, Apollonia (Lina) Cavagna, the love of his life.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1982, Don worked for a Communications Company called CACI, until his final retirement.

Don cherished his family, friends, and reading Spy novels. His sense of humor and laughter will be missed. Don and Lina spent their retirement years living for six months of each year at their 2 homes, one in Pasadena, Maryland and one in Naples, Italy.

Don is survived by his wife, Lina and his 2 children, Cristina and Steve, as well as, Cristina’s husband, Jerry Vanderslice and their 2 children, Joseph and Maria; Steve’s wife, Jessica and their sons, Vincent and Christian; Don’s sister, Elaine and husband, Ron Kaminen; brother, Wayne and wife, Yvonne; brother, Jim Aird and wife, Joanne, several nieces and nephews and many cousins.

A Memorial Gathering was held on Sunday, April 16, 2023 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services in Glen Burnie, MD for friends and family. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, on August 23, 2023.

Contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans www.ihelpveterans.org or to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, www.cbf.org.