Mollie “Tina” Justine Nighsonger Born: October 12, 1933 in Kenosha, WI Died: June 26, 2024 in Kenosha, WI Tina Nighsonger, affectionately known as Grammie, went to her eternal rest on June 26, 2024 at the age of 90. She was known for her beautiful angel pins and wore one every day on her shoulder.
She was born on October 12, 1933 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Mollie Heg Christensen and Just Boyd Christensen. Her father was born in Bjerringbro, Denmark and came through Ellis Island at the age of 17 and was proud to become a US citizen. Her mother was born in Russia and moved to Canada as a baby. Tina was the oldest of five children. A sister, Georgianne Sampson who passed before her, as well as her husband, Jack and a brother Robert, who has also passed and was married to Carole who is living in AZ. Tina is survived by James & his wife Darlene and Ron & his wife Pat all of Kenosha, WI.
She graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha in 1951, the days of poodle skirts, saddle shoes and bobby socks. She worked for Wisconsin Bell and then transferred to Illinois Bell Telephone Company. She also worked for Waukegan Public Schools while raising her family as a vision & hearing technician and a secretary.
She married the love of her life, Clifford Nighsonger from Zion, IL. He was 32 years old and lived with his mother, Grace. He finally found the woman he wanted to marry and they were immediately engaged and got married 6 months later on January 16, 1954 on the coldest day of the year. The only warmth was from the candles because the sexton forgot to turn on the heat. They celebrated their 64th anniversary before Clifford passed in 2018.
They had three daughters, Kimberly, Kay and Kari all raised on Leith Avenue in Waukegan, IL. Kim married Jeffrey Beck in 1976, Kay married Dean Layton in 1983 and Kari married Steven Payne in 1993. Grammie called them, my three sons.
She was adored by her seven grandchildren, Michael Layton, Nicole Beck Swigart (Chris Swigart), Rachel Layton Kavlick (Sean Kavlick), Todd Beck, Kori Beck Brick (Jeff Brick), Tyler Payne (Grace Manning Payne) and Karlie Payne. There is an adorable great-grandchild, Colter Swigart who just turned a year old.
Vacations were spent at Shawano Lake in Wisconsin and in retirement, Tina and Cliff were snowbirds in Myrtle Beach for over 30 years. Tina & Cliff moved to Morris, IL in 1987 to be near their oldest daughter, Kim and her family.
Tina loved to read and did a daily devotional as her love of church was not only important to her, but she lived a daily, faithful life in everything she did. Raised Lutheran, she was steadfast in her devotion to God. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Waukegan, IL and Peace Lutheran Church & Friends in Christ Lutheran Church both in Morris, IL. She loved cooking, volunteering, daily long walks, bridge, knitting and doing counted cross-stitch. She was prolific in her knitting, creating hundreds, maybe even thousands of prayer shawls to give to the church for those needing comfort. Her counted cross-stitch pieces look like paintings.
Tina will be buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL next to Clifford. The celebration of life will be for the family. Memorial gifts can go to: Friends in Christ Lutheran Church 1338 Clay Street Morris, IL 60450
