Richard Andrew Nielsen

Feb. 13, 1920 - Aug. 20, 2009

Richard Andrew Nielsen of McCook died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 89 years old.

He was born in Omaha on Feb. 13, 1920, to Andrew Nels and Blanche Marie (Reed) Nielsen. He grew up in Omaha and graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1938. He then completed an additional year of a post-graduate course in Business Administration at the Omaha Technical High School. He attended the University of Omaha for one year.

He joined the U.S. Coast Guard on Aug. 30, 1941, served through World War II and was honorably discharged on June 19, 1946, at Detroit, Mich. While in the service, he met and married Verna Pauline Lohr at Tacoma, Wash., on May 23, 1942. Three sons were born to this union, Ronald Edward, Gary Lawrence and Michael Richard.

After Richard was discharged from the service, he moved his family to Verna's home town of Prairie du Sac, Wis. He worked a year for the Sauk-Prairie Lumber Company and a year with the Wisconsin Power & Light Co. In 1948, the family moved to McCook, where he worked in the office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He next spent five years as office manager for Corey Oil and Appliance at McCook. He then spent three years as accountant for McCook Packing Corporation. From 1959 until retirement, he was self employed as a public accountant, real estate broker, insurance agent and contractor building Westland Homes throughout Southwest Nebraska. He and wife, Verna, opened and operated Verna's Health Foods.

He was baptized and affirmed into the Lutheran faith at Peace Lutheran Church in 1950 where he has remained a member and served on the church council as a treasurer for many years.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Verna on April 11, 1978, son, Dr. Gary on Dec. 18, 2008 and sister, Ruth Lenihan, in 2006.

He married Dorothy Lucille (Dack) Eisenbarth on June 6, 1980.

Survivors include Dorothy, sons, Ronald Nielsen and Dr. Michael Nielsen and wife, Linda and daughter-in-law, Patricia Nielsen, all of McCook; grandchildren, Amy Stanley and husband, Robert and children, Caroline, Lauryn and Ella of Big Springs, Andrew Nielsen and wife, Laura of Blaine, Minn., Adrienne Zhang and husband, Guang and child, Isabel of Medina, Minn., Matthew Nielsen and wife, Angie and children, Isaac and Abigail of McCook and Nathan Nielsen and wife, Amanda and children, Alexander and Aaron of McCook.

Friends may sign his book at the funeral home or send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com.

Funeral services will be Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook with Pastor Tom Albertson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in Charge of the arrangements.