1922
Leo makes first stove with his step dad out of a steam boiler
1930
Leo Nippa Incorporates the business and starts making sauna stoves. At first Leo simply used welding rod to weld his name Leo Nippa and just below that Bruces to indicate where they were made in the town of Bruce Crossing, MI formally known as “Bruces Crossing” hence “Bruces” being used.
Date Unknown
Shortly after Leo had cast iron doors produced that stated “Leo Nippa
Leo Nippas son Eli joins him in the business and together they make stoves. The doors get changed to say leo Nippa and Son. (NEED TO FIND PIC of stove door for this)
1960
Leo Nippa Retires (Between 1930 & 1960) there were 15,000 heaters sold
1960
Eli Nippa takes over the family business and continues the Nippa legacy
1964
Gov George Romney Visits Eli Nippa and the Nippa manufacturing facility in Bruce Crossing
1969
Eli sells the business to his nephew (Mike Stenfors) and Gil Kotila.
1969-1973
Mike Stenfors (Leos Grandson) and Gil Kotila own the business. Under the entity of Bruce Manufacturing Inc. making Nippa Sauna Heaters
1973
Mike Stenfors buys out Gil Kotila continues under the entity of Bruce Manufacturing Inc. making Nippa Sauna Heaters
1973-1978
Mike Stenfors is the sole owner of Nippa
1975
Leo Nippa passes away
1979
The business gets sold by Mike Stenfors to Gil Kotila and for the first time in 48years is owned and operated by someone not part of the Nippa Family and changes the Name to Nippa Heaters Inc.
1980
Nippa Starts producing wood room heaters and furnaces
1998
(Gil Kotila Retires) Gil Kotias Daughter Christine Kotila and long time fabricator Bruce Gibson (Gibby) Take over the company as partners.
2005
Al Hardman Purchases Nippa and sets up Nippa Sauna Stoves
June 2011
Nippa Sauna Stoves was sold to Dean Micheals
December 2024
Dean Micheal sells Nippa to Philip Casteleyn and Jerry Wilson
February 2025
Introduction to thicker sided panels with updated welded corners & the first product in Nippa history since 1980 stove pipe rock surround
March 2025
Nippa was the main event sponsor for Michigan Sauna Fest
April 2025
Introduction of the stove body rock surround
May 2025
Gas stove resurrected from the dead
May 2025
Nippa starts R&D on Tent Stove
June 2025
Glass Door Prototype Launched