Rolf Melius Nilsestuen

Rolf M. Nilsestuen, 82, died, February 1, 2004, at The Courville, 22 Hunt Street, Nashua. Mr. Nilsestuen was born April 12, 1921 in a Norwegian community in Wisconsin. He was the widower of Janet Nilsestuen, who died in 1971. He lived in Maryland for many years before moving to Nashua in 2002. He worked for NOAA in scientific publications prior to retiring in 1981. Among his many interests were skiing, sailing, opera, and archaeology, especially the Norse explorations in North America. He is the author of The Kensington Runestone Vindicated. He obtained a BS in math, science and music at U. W. River Falls. He earned a commission at the Meteorology Cadet Course at Chanute Field in 1943, then attended the Air Intelligence School in Harrisburg, PA, and served 20 months in the South Pacific. After the war he obtained a BA in music education and taught music for four years. He re-entered the Air Force and obtained a MS in meteorology from Penn State. He served as a forecaster at Thule AFB, Greenland, and then in Scientific Services, Hq. Air Weather Service. From 1958-81, he held government jobs in military climatology, weather satellite research, and scientific publications. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, R. Eric and Lee Nilsestuen of Chester, NY, and Jon and Robin Nilsestuen of Friendswood, Texas; a daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Robert McGuirk of Nashua, NH; four grandchildren, Peter and Ben Nilsestuen of Warwick, NY and Geoffrey and Juline McGuirk of Nashua; and several nieces and nephews.