Jim Nessle

Does anyone remember anything about Jim Nessle who used to go to the schools back in the 40's and teach the kids about the great outdoors? He was a huge influence in my life and the lives of many others. I would love to know what became of him.

An annual Boy Scout hike was named after him. It is usually every October. It starts at Providence Metroparks near Grand Rapids, Ohio, and it ends at the Farnsworth Metroparks, just outside Waterville, Ohio. I believe he was an ornithologist, a person who studies birds, and I do believe he was an expert birdwatcher. He knew much about the birds of northwest Ohio.

I remember Mr. Nessle very well and have fond memories of the programs he gave at my elementary school in Perrysburg when I was a little girl, back in the '60s. We paid 10¢ to attend. He showed slides of the birds as he did amazing imitations of their calls. He reinforced my love of nature, and I always looked forward to his shows.

I remember Jim Nessle. My cousin attended Waterville Elementary School. We were about 9 years old. At the time I was living in Sandusky Oh. During the summer I'd visit, and attend different outings with the Girl Scouts in Waterville. My cousin introduced me to the Nessle family.The children attended Waterville Elementary School at the time. Mrs. Nessle had an outing at their home for the Girl Scouts.Their home was awesome, and had the tendency to blend with all the nature abounding their property. Wow that sure is, "BRAIN PICKIN." I wonder as well what happen to Jim Nessle. My cousin told me of a fellow that would take a dip in the Maumee River on New Year's Day. He passed on. I believe his name was Herb. Well, I'd beg my father for a visit, to see this event with cuz. It turned out to be a family gathering and potluck.

Came across this while bored at work. Jim Nessle was my dad. He died Oct 20th 1972. His wife Isabel will be 97 this year and living close to us in Miamisburg OH. I remember many a long night working in our basement printing dad's fliers on an offset printing press. Dad did the nature presentations at schools and organizaton meeting for 27 years. Was a lifetime member of the Toledo naturalists association. also was on WSPD TV 13 for I think 10 years. I understand mom went into labor with me when dad was out collecting skunk cabbage for one of his shows. We've only managed to obtain 2 of his "Nature Trails" shows that were filmed. Otherwise it was live TV. My sister Paula now in retirement is sifting through over 60,000 slides of dad's. As far as I know the Erie counsel boy scouts are continuing to do the annual Jim Nessle hike that runs between Grand Rapids and Waterville and behind where the house once stood. Mom sold the river frontage to the Metroparks and I understand it may become a southern entrance to Bendview park. Wenever I can I tramp the property and remember things in my childhood.

I knew Jim Nessle as a 4th or 5th grader while attending Longfellow School on Jackman Road in West Toledo, Ohio. I had connections with Mr. Nessle in a three ways. He was the father of one of my classmates, a customer on my Toledo Blade paper route and he was also a customer of my father, Ed Pendleton who owned Ed's Friendly Service, a Mobil service station on the corner of Jackman and Berdan avenues.

Mr. Nessle was such a good customer of my dad's that whe he proposed to my dad that they should construct a folding tent camper, my dad took the challenge and they built it in evenings and off hours in the "lube room" of the service station. This took place around 1953 or 1954, the date of which I am not exactly sure. Upon reflection I firmly believe that this was a "first" of sorts as the base was a sort of box bed two wheeled trailer with each end hinged so as to be able to be erected with canvas being the roof portion which kept rain off the occupants. I don't recall ever hearing how it all worked out, but its building has left an indelible memory with me.

I remember that camper! I am Jim Nessle's eldest son. We took that camper to Florida in '53. I don't remember the trip, but afterward dad stored the camper in our barn. We moved away from NE Toledo 25 miles to the West in Waterville, OH on to a 56 acre farm. us kids used to play hide and seek in the barn and sometimes I chose the trailer for a hiding place. It was made of masonite and had tin foil on the inside. I'm not sure why tin foil was used, but it had this shimmery sound whenever you banged the side of the trailer.

Hey I know the Nessle Family
As far as I can tell they have somehow gotten more brains in that family than should be legal .Phil Being one of the finest automotive experts in the business and Jon being one of the finest researchers into biblical studies I have ever met ..

Keep Up The Good work

I also remember attending visits from Jim Nessle at Glenwood School (the original building), in the '50's. He was great and made everyone feel as he was their Uncle. I've always wondered if Toledo gave him his just due. He was truely a Toledo Treasure.

I grew up in Waterville and have great memories of Mr. Nessle. The best times were as a boyscout in troop 257.He was our scoutmaster and knew everything about plants, birds, and scouting. His middle son Jim and I were in the same class from elementary school through high school. Mr. Nessle did a great slideshow every year at our elementary school about birds. He would tell about how each bird lived and then would imitate their calls. My dad died just six months before he did. They were friends. Mr. Nessle was like an uncle to me.