Vladimir Nosan

Vladimir Merco Nosan
Vladimir Merco Nosan, 97 of Chisholm, MN went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 24, 2014.  Vladimir was born to John and Mary (Champa) Nosan on August 6, 1917 in Chisholm Minnesota.  He was a graduate of Chisholm High School Class of 1936.  He worked with his father as a stone mason, building basements, walls and sidewalks.  He entered the war effort in 1942 with the 320th Engineer Battalion, 95th Infantry Division Company B.  Starting as a Private Basic Engineer then Private First Class truck driver then heavy construction carpenter at grade tech 4.  He was with the 95th Division being sent to Normandy through France with the Red Ball Express. His campaigns with the 95th Infantry Division were the Metz Campaign, where the fortified city of Metz was for the first time captured in any war earning them the name; “Iron Men of Metz”.  He was a part of the SAAR River Campaign where his division cleared road blocks and removed demolitions from a bridge over the SAAR River.  On November 28th, first elements of the 95th Division set foot on German soil.  Merco took part in the Rhineland Campaign his division repaired and constructed roads and bridges.  In his campaigns and battles Merco earned;  European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with three Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal, a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star Medal, and a French Freedom Medal.
Following the war, Merco returned home to Chisholm and purchased a wooden roller skating building/garage.  After demolition of the building he started to lay cinder and cement blocks which his family and friends had made.  In due time it became Nosan Oil Company on First Avenue Northwest, a gas station with two auto repair bays and auto storage for 60 cars and a 24-hour gas and fuel oil delivery service.  The station also housed the Greyhound Bus Line for many years.  Merco was also the owner of the Mileage Gas Station, Frostop Drive-In restaurant which later became Voyageur Liquor Store.  He operated the liquor store until his retirement.  He entered the Sacrament of Marriage with LaVerne Rachel Kivi on May 20, 1950.
Merco was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Chisholm Curling Club, Chisholm Moose, Boy Scout Leader and Chisholm School Board, and the American Legion.
Merco was a hard worker and found little time to relax.  He was always working on a project.  He loved to garden and cook.  One of his favorites for his family was his spaghetti.  It had everything in it except the kitchen sink.  He was very proud of the fireplace he built with Canadian quartz amethyst.  He enjoyed the visits from his grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
He is survived by his children, Terry (Mary Kay) Nosan, Chisholm, Kevin Nosan, Britt, Sheila (Jon) Kne, Chisholm, Rebecca Johnson, Rosemount, MN, Grandchildren; Jeremy (Fatima) Nosan, Phoenix, AZ, Aaron Nosan, Minneapolis, Paul Nosan, Chisholm, MN, Crystol Caudullo, Chisholm, MN, Natalie (Michael) Yaroscak, Chisholm, MN, Ryan Kne, Duluth, Courtney Kne, Chisholm, MN, Adam Johnson, Alysia Johnson, and Alexander Johnson all of Rosemount, MN, great-grandchildren, Tessa, Taylor, and Trace Yaroscak, Hannah, Connor, and Peighton Kne, Gianna, Aiden, Isabelle, and Kalle Caudullo, all of Chisholm, MN, sister, Dorothy Smith, brother, James (Shirley) Nosan, both of Chisholm, his special friend, Dorothy Perkovich, Chisholm, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife LaVerne, brothers, Frank and Stanley, sisters, Adela Ebert, Mary Pogorelc, two nephews, Frank and Richard Ebert, and his niece, Betty Pogorelc.
Funeral services for Merco will be held at 11:30am, Saturday, August 30, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chisholm, MN.  The Rev. Fr. Fred Method will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial.  Visitation will be held from 10:00am until the 11:30am funeral Mass at the church on Saturday.  Interment will be in the Chisholm Cemetery on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.  Merco’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at Heritage Manor for the kind care that was given to him. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.

To sign Merco’s online register, please visit us at www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

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