Thomas Nisonger

Thomas Nisonger passed away at Bloomington Hospital on December 8, 2025. He was born December 14, 1943 in Ashtabula, Ohio, the only child of Irvin J. Nisonger and Mary Gienger Nisonger. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Claire Witten Nisonger of Bloomington, and two adopted children: Suzanne Nisonger of Denver Colorado and Stanley (Jennifer) Nisonger of Crawfordsville IN. He was the only child of Irvin J. Nisonger and Mary Gienger who preceded him in death. In addition his many library students whose lives he touched. He received a BA from the College of Wooster, an MLS in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a PhD in comparative politics at Columbia University He was first employed as a librarian at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg Canada from Nov 1974 to May of 1981. Then he started as head of acquisitions at the University of Texas at Dallas. After he rose to associate library director, he decided he would prefer teaching as a professor rather than administration and moved to Indiana University Bloomington in August of 1988. He retired as full professor in June 2005. He taught several required courses so that most library students took them. It has been his great pleasure to meet them again in later years and many make sure they visit him when they return to Bloomington from their positions though out the country. Tom’s dissertation topic was Lenin’s purge of this opponents in the Leningrad party. Once the topic came up: Did you ever use your dissertation topic in real life? Tom said “No, he had not purged any of his opponents”. Tom had several professional memberships in various Library Associations. His honorary societies were Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Phi Mu (Library Science), Pi Sigma Alpha (Poli Sci) and Phi Alpha Theta (history). He received several teaching awards, including the Trustees Teaching Award, K.G. Saur Award for best research article in 2000, and the TERA Award for teaching excellence at Indiana University. He served on several library boards and dissertation committees. A Fulbright Fellowship Exchange Program to Oxford University ended before it began when Margaret Thatcher terminated that position. It turned out to be a good twist of fate as that is when he was accepted at Indiana University. Tom would introduce himself on the first day of classes by telling the story of meeting Claire at the Empire State Building. When getting on the subway he realized he had left his wallet at the Bernard College Library when he paid a fine. He returned to find his wallet still there and said “This testifies to the integrity of librarians”. Anniversaries were celebrated by Empire State related activities: watching one of several movies or visiting the Empire State Quarry south of Bloomington. The most fitting memorial to Tom is to support your library with your patronage, presence and donations. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road 37 has been entrusted with the arrangements and online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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Thomas Nisonger

December 14, 1943 - December 8, 2025