Harry and Louise Nysather

It all started on the second floor of Lincoln Grade School. Fifty years ago, four fledgling programs, dental assistant, accounting, legal secretary and floriculture, squeezed themselves into former grade school classrooms. The retail floral program received national publicity as it was rather unique being the only course of its type in this part of the country. St. Joseph’s Hospital housed a fifth program – Practical Nursing. This was the beginning of Brainerd Technical Institute.

Hired in 1964 out of Janesville, WI, Harry Nysather was the first and only director at the Brainerd Technical Institute. In the years that followed, Harry watched his student body grow from 84 students in 1964 to the 803 full-time students in 1986. He oversaw the growth of a new facility with four additions and more than 30 programs. He also played a major role in the merger of the Brainerd Technical College with Brainerd Community College.

Before moving to Brainerd, MN, Harry graduated from high school in 1947 in Stoughton, WI. This was followed by a four year machinist apprenticeship at Gisholt Machine Company in Madison, WI. From 1952 to 1954, Harry served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. On May 22, 1954, Harry married Louise Okland in Madison, WI. He graduated from Stout State University at Menomonie, WI in 1957 and also received his Master’s degree in 1959 in Vocational Technical Education. In 1957, Harry taught machine shop in Janesville, WI, and was also the Trade and Industries Coordinator.

While serving as the Director of the Brainerd Technical Institute for 27 years, Harry was the President of Minnesota Technical College Presidents and also served on the Boards of Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corps, the Rotary Club, Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce, Bremer Bank, Initiative Foundation, First Presbyterian Church, and Bethany Good Samaritan Village.

Since his retirement in 1991, Harry was actively involved with Central Lakes College Foundation (15 years), Community Education, Retired Technical Institute Directors, Kids Voting, Lakewood Evangelical Free Church Elder Board, Kiwanis Ice Fishing Contest, various Bible studies, and doing volunteer work in the Central Lakes College Welding Shop. His hobbies were wood turning, fishing, golfing, gardening, cooking and traveling across the U.S. and to Norway and China. He also greatly enjoyed spending time with his entire family.

In 2004, Harry celebrated 50 years of marriage with his wife and best friend, Louise.

The Harry and Louise M. Nysather Family Scholarship Fund at Central Lakes College was created after Harry died unexpectedly on July 8, 2006, at the St. Cloud Hospital Intensive Care Unit. The original fund was established 35 years ago after their son Stephen died in a car accident shortly after he graduated from the Staples Area Vocational Institute. When Harry passed away, his family made the decision to combine Stephen’s scholarship fund with Harry’s memorial monies. Vocational education and his church always remained very close and dear to Harry’s heart.
Harry is remembered as a man who was passionate about education, particularly vocational and technical education. He once told a college student newspaper, “I am really sold on vocational education.”