Elmer Theodore Nielsen

Elmer Theodore Nielsen, the son of Danish immigrants Karl and Kristina (Frederiksen) Nielsen, was born May 1, 1923, at his parents’ home south of Exira, Iowa and died June 4, 2014, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 91 years, 1 month, and 3 days. Elmer was baptized and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. He attended rural school near his home then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1941. He then helped operate the family farm. On November 29, 1949, he was united in marriage to Helen Bonita Myers by Pastor C.J. Biddle at the Christian Church Parsonage in Perry, Iowa. Three sons: Robert, Randall, and Richard were born to this union. Elmer and Helen operated the family farm south of Exira where they grew grain and raised hogs and cattle. Elmer and Helen lived on the farm until they retired from farming and moved into Exira in 2004. Elmer enjoyed his home then moved to the Exira Care Center in October of 2011. Elmer was a lifelong member of the Exira Lutheran Church and served on the church council. Elmer and Helen enjoyed traveling and had visited Denmark. Elmer enjoyed working with animals, tinkering in his shop, and playing old time music. But most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren. Elmer was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Pamela Nielsen; his parents; his brothers: Harold Nielsen and Herman and wife Alice Nielsen; his sister Inga and husband Charles Krause; and his sister-in-law Edith Belle and husband Raymond Culbertson. Survivors include his wife Helen Nielsen of Exira, Iowa; his sons: Robert and wife Sylvia Nielsen of Exira; Randall Nielsen of Newell, Iowa; Richard and wife Diane Nielsen of Exira; his 5 grandchildren: Jennifer and husband Kevin Howell of Bixby, Oklahoma; Christopher Nielsen; Joshua and wife Brenda Nielsen all of Newell; Emily Nielsen of Iowa City, Iowa; Hillary Nielsen of Exira; his 6 great grandchildren: Jessica, Trey, and Tyler Howell of Bixby; Hanna and Rilyn Nielsen, and Rowyn Nielsen all of Newell; his sister-in-law Wilma Nielsen of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Saturday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dwayne Ferguson on Sunday, June 8, 2014, at 1:30 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa.