Albert Hans Nissen

Native Petaluman Albert Hans Nissen died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday. He was 87.

The oldest of three children born to Olga and Hans Nissen of Petaluma, "Al" was born Dec. 14, 1924. He attended Wilson School, Petaluma Junior High and Petaluma High School before entering the poultry ranching business as a young man.

Nissen ran the family farm on Eucalyptus Avenue southwest of Petaluma.

And in 1964, Nissen, along with Dick Weber and Ed Johnson, established Liberty Farms, an egg processing and packing plant.

"In fact it was the first shell-egg processing plant in California," said Arnie Riebli who became a partner in the business in 1975. "In today's world it's volume and in those days it was volume."

"Besides running his own farm, Al would have to come in and do the payroll. Back in the 1960s there were no computers and he had to do it all by hand," Riebli said.

The operation grew and Nissen eventually sold the family farm to the group and moved into town. In the late 1970s or early 1980s, several operations were merged into one to created Sunrise Farms, Riebli said.

Today, Sunrise Farms/Nucal Foods produces between 750,000 and one million eggs a day.

Nissen remained a partner in the operation, but decades ago withdrew from the day-to-day operation to pursue his love of travel and music.

Nissen married Joan Walker on Dec. 29, 1969, after his first wife Patricia died of cancer.

The pair were avid dancers with the Merry-Go-Rounders and Jolly Dancers clubs, and often took overseas trips to act as "roadies" for favorite Dixieland jazz bands.

"He lived a good life," Riebli said. "Al lived life the way he wanted to do it, and he lived life the way most people should do it."

Stepson Fred Walker of Santa Clara, Utah, remembered Nissen as an honest man of great integrity.

"He was honest, a solid businessman and a great provider," Walker said.

An avid San Francisco 49er fan, Nissen also was an accomplished gardener.

In addition to his stepson and wife of 42 years, Joan Nissen of Petaluma; he is survived by daughters Lynn Sutherland of Oroville and Heidi Mischel of Laguna Niguel; son Eric Nissen of Santa Rosa; stepson John Walker of Valencia; sisters Arlene Klein and Loraine Johnsen, both of Petaluma; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Nancy and his first wife, Patricia Nissen.

A memorial service to celebrate Nissen's life is planned for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 14 at the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma, 745 Baywood Dr. in Petaluma.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of choice.