Donald "Nik" Nikolai Salmela Obituary (1932

Donald "Nik" Nikolai Salmela, 85, passed away on Oct. 29, 2017. Nik was born on Aug. 3, 1932 in Bremerton, Wash. to Jack and Mary Salmela. Nik's family remained in the Bremerton area throughout his childhood, including on homesteads in Belfair and Chico, where his earliest memories included farm chores, adventures, childhood hijinks and fishing in the surrounding creeks, lakes and bays. Nik graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1951. Nik wrestled and played football. He helped the team to a district championship as a running back in 1949. The day after graduation, Nik left for Moses Lake, Wash., to work a variety of jobs before joining the Air Force. Nik married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Martin, in Bremerton on Dec. 27, 1952. They made their first home in Wichita Falls, Tex., where Nik was attending school at Sheppard Air Force Base. Nik was later stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash., where they welcomed their first daughter, Nikki. Following four years in the Air Force, Nik and Bev moved their family to Seattle, Wash. Here, they welcomed their second daughter, Robin. The family attended Dunlap Baptist Church. Nik worked as a contractor and built a home for his family, where they lived until 1970. The family moved back to Kitsap County to live in their summer cabin in Holly, on the Hood Canal. Nik began work at Bremerton's Imperial Manufacturing, where he eventually became president of the wetsuit and survival suit company. The family finally settled into their waterfront home in Tracyton, Wash., in 1973. Nik's work took him to many places to test, demonstrate and sell survival suits - From iron ore ships on the great lakes to offshore oilrigs off the coast of Brazil. Bev accompanied Nik on many business trips around the world, which doubled as memorable vacations. Following his time at Imperial, Nik applied his experience to help start Benik Corporation, which remains as a family business in Silverdale, Wash. Nik's love of fishing continued into his adult life. Family and friends can recall his many true stories of landing big-game fish in tropical waters and fishing trips to Alaska. Along with his stories of adventure, he could always be counted on for a good joke. Nik was preceded in death by his parents and sister Anita Clark (Donald). Survivors include his wife Beverly, daughters Nikki Baumgartner (Tim) and Robin Masters (Steve), sister Mary Lou Joss (Robert), five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and numerous cousins and nieces and nephews. Inurnment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Bremerton. A celebration of Nik's life will be held at a later date.