Harold A. Theisen: 25 Nov 1911 – 3 Jul 1990 Marion Ellen Nolan Theisen: 1914 – 1996 Residence: Minneapolis & Hennepin County, Minnesota Burial: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Harold and Marion Theisen represent the union of two long‑established Minneapolis families — the German‑American Theisen line and the Irish‑Catholic Nolan line. Their marriage in 1938 linked two households known for deep parish roots, strong sibling networks, and multigenerational ties to Minneapolis and the surrounding communities.
Their lives spanned the Great Depression, World War II, and the post‑war transformation of the Twin Cities, and they remained closely connected to both extended families throughout their lives.
Parents: Mathais Joseph Theisen (1881–1931) & Laura Theresa Dorothy Ruff Phenow (1886–1974) Siblings: Wilfred, Philip, Doris, Frederick, Margaret, Lucile, Edward (d. young), Marilyn
Harold was born and raised in Minneapolis within a large German‑Catholic family. His life was shaped by the economic challenges of the 1930s and the industrial growth of mid‑century Minneapolis. He worked in the skilled‑labor and industrial sectors typical of the era and remained deeply connected to his siblings and extended Theisen relatives.
He died in Eden Prairie in 1990 and is buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.
Parents: Mathew J. Nolan (1889–1929) & Beatrice (Crombie) Nolan (1891–1989) Siblings: James “Bud,” William, Rosemary “Posie,” John Matthew, 2LT Patrick J., Matthew James “Mutzie,” Joseph Patrick, Catherine “Kalle,” and others in the large Nolan household
Marion grew up in the well‑documented Nolan–Crombie family of Minneapolis — a household marked by resilience after the early death of her father and by strong bonds among the many siblings. She carried the Nolan traits of humor, loyalty, and deep family commitment throughout her life.
She died in 1996 and rests beside Harold at St. Mary’s.
Married: 24 November 1938, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Children:
Ann Louise Theisen (1943–2003)
Mary Beth Theisen (1950–2001)
Other children:
Joan, Thomas, Anthony"Tony", John "Greg", Jane, James "Kevin"
Their home was a gathering point for both Nolan and Theisen relatives, and they maintained lifelong ties to Minneapolis parishes and extended family networks.
Harold and Marion’s lives form a bridge between two major branches of your lineage project. Their burial at St. Mary’s places them among multiple generations of Nolans and Theisens, reinforcing their role as a central connecting couple in the family’s 20th‑century story.
Their descendants continue the combined heritage of both families — German‑American, Irish‑Catholic, Minneapolis‑rooted, and deeply interwoven with the Nolan–Crombie lineage.