Kathleen Gullickson Nissila

She was raised on a farm in Bowbells, ND, with her parents and her sister, Nadine. As a young adult, she moved to Portland, OR, where she met a young engineer named Al Nissila. They were married on September 29, 1962. Kathleen stayed home and raised her children for many years, while Al worked. In the early 80s, she went back to college and got a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Counseling. She ministered as a chaplain at Providence Hospital in Portland. A few years later, she returned to college where she earned a master’s degree in counseling, after which she counseled in the Lewis and Clark College Counseling department and in private practice.

Kathleen and Al lived part-time in Portland and part-time in Kailua-Kona, HI. Kathleen served both of her churches, Central Lutheran Church in Portland and the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Kailua-Kona, as pastoral minister. She was loved by many for her compassion and grace. Kathleen passed away on August 20, 2025, in Portland, OR.

She is survived by her husband, Al; her son, Alan and partner David von Aspern; her daughter, Carmel and husband Daniel Edwards; her son, Daniel and wife Anne-Marie Barreau; and her grandchildren, Matthew Edwards and Micha Sevenhuysen. In lieu of flowers or special masses, the family requests that you donate to your local food bank in Kathleen’s memory.