Marvin Leroy Nielsen

Marvin Nielsen was born on July 4, 1928, at a farm west of Irwin, Iowa. Marvin Leroy Nielsen, the son of Rasmus and Alma (Peters) Nielsen, he was one of 10 children. He attended school at Clay No. 9 near Elk Horn, Iowa for some of his grade school years, and went through the 8th grade. He then worked for different farmers and places in Elk Horn. He moved to Viola Center and farmed with his brother Elmer.

In 1955, he married Rita Laurel Beeson, the daughter of Cleo and Marie Beeson at the Viola Center Evangelical United Brethren Church, south of Viola Center. They lived their first two years of married life west of Viola Center, then moved to their present location one half mile north of Fiscus, Iowa, where they have been for 60 years.

Four sons were born to this union, Steve, Jim, Mark and Tim. Marvin was first a member of the Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church in Fiscus, where he served as usher and several other committees. In 1991, he and Laurel joined the First United Methodist Church of Audubon, after the Baptist Church closed. He was an usher and served on the over 40 committee. He farmed until 1995, and then drove a school bus for Irwin, Iowa, and Audubon, Iowa. He also helped a neighbor farm by driving a grain truck and doing field work, which he loved, he was a farmer through and through.

He was a quiet man but taught by example, as his sons will tell you. He milked cows for many years and raised hogs and cattle.

Preceding him in death were his great grandchildren Griffin Nielsen and Olivia Nielsen; his parents; his brothers Elmer and wife Pat Nielsen, Virgil Nielsen, and Donald Nielsen; his sisters Alice and husband Harold Winther, Jean Loudenslager, and Donna Byriel; and his brothers-in-law Emmert Hansen, Jefferson Roberts, and John Lewis Steenhusen.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Laurel Nielsen of Audubon, Iowa; his sons Steve and wife Julie Nielsen of Missouri Valley Iowa, Jim and wife Jody Nielsen of Pensacola, Florida, Mark and wife Helene Nielsen of Gothenberg, Sweden, and Tim Nielsen of Omaha, Nebraska; his grandchildren, Lindsey Nielsen of Heron Lake, Minnesota, Jerod and wife Abbie Nielsen, of Denison, Iowa, Alyssa and Lexie Nielsen both of Pensacola, Florida, Bailey and Elina Nielsen both of Gothenberg, Sweden; his great grandchildren Carter, Addie and Kinnick Nielsen all of Denison, Iowa; his sisters: Irene Hansen of Audubon, Iowa, Mary Jane Steenhusen of Irwin, Iowa, and Janell Roberts of Exira, Iowa; his brothers-in-law: Glen Byriel of Boone, Iowa, Fred Loudenslager of Indianola, Iowa; his sister-in-law Barb Reinitz of Oakville, Washington; nieces, nephews, cousins in the States and in Denmark; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa with Pastor Kathy Kluis officiating. Inurnment will be held in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin, Iowa at a later date. The family will meet friends Monday, November 6, 2017 at 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.