Nadhim Putrous Mishu

Nadhim Putrous Mishu, 93, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully with family members by his side on Oct. 3 after a long illness.

Mr. Mishu was born on March 19, 1930, in Baghdad, Iraq. He graduated from college as an electrical engineer and eventually established a successful lighting manufacturing business.

In 1960, he married Samira Ghareib, and they had four children. In the late 1990s, he and his wife came to America to be with their children and the extended Mishu family that was established in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Mishu proudly became U.S. citizens.

Mr. Mishu was a passionate classical and jazz music fan. He was a highly skilled clarinet player who was a member of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra along with his violinist brother, Fuad Mishu.

Mr. Mishu is predeceased by his brothers Louie and Fuad and sister Alice Raban. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Samira, his brothers Albert and Farook, and sisters Gladys Shamoon and Suad Behnam. He also is survived by his four children, daughters Nahla (Roger) Harb and Maha (Sam) Tobea, sons Issam Mishu and Nahil (Weam) Mishu, and his three grandchildren, Dr. Wissam (Jennifer) Tobea, Dalya (Kevin) Frank, Luke Mishu, and great-grandchildren Noah and Julia Frank.

A funeral Mass for Mr. Mishu was celebrated on Oct. 6 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with interment following the Mass at Edgewood Cemetery in Knoxville. Donations in Mr. Mishu’s memory may be made to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919, or https://www.shcathedral.org/.