John A. Nousaine, age 70, beloved brother and uncle of Superior, Wisconsin, passed away suddenly on July 25, 2024. John was born on April 5, 1954 to August and Inez Nousaine of New York Mills. John graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth before beginning a life of public service to the disability community as director of North Country Independent Living (now called Indigo) in Superior. 

Despite becoming an above the knee amputee at age 20, John remained an avid outdoorsman and became a skiing and scuba enthusiast. He died doing what he loved, exploring the wreck of the SS Emperor near Isle Royal in Lake Superior. 

John is survived by his brother, Dennis Nousaine, nephews John T. and Aaron Nousaine, niece Katrina (Christopher) Nousaine Mann, great nephews John T. Nousaine Jr. and Zachary Mann, and great nieces Madeline and Aila Nousaine. John was preceded in death by his parents and brother Thomas. He will be greatly missed by both family and his large network of close friends. 

John will be interred at St. Peters cemetery in New York Mills, Minnesota. A celebration of life will be held in New York Mills on October 26 at VFW 3289 Post from 5-7 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6pm. 

John’s family has established a memorial fund in his name dedicated to supporting adaptive skiing. 

If you’d like to donate to the fund, please visit the website below or click the QR code. When donating, please note John’s name in the comments so the funds are attributed to his memorial fund. 

Make a Gift to Northland Adaptive Recreation – (mdfoundation.org)