NIELSEN, John D., age 79

Died: Monday, February 17th, 2025

Celebration of Life: 12:00 pm (Noon) on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Hope Lutheran Church in Eau Claire

Visitation: 10:30 to 11:45 on Saturday at church

Interment: Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, Wisconsin

John D. Nielsen, age 79, of Lake Hallie, died Monday, February 17, 2025 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls. 

John was born October 12, 1945 in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the youngest of nine children, to the late John and Rose (Hansen) Nielsen. He attended elementary school in Grand Meadow, Minnesota, and Unity High School in Milltown, Wisconsin, graduating in 1963.  John married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Erickson, on June 18, 1966.

In 1967, John was drafted into the Army completing his basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was deployed to Vietnam in February 1968 where he served as a medic stationed at Chu Lai and flew numerous helicopter missions. After his time in Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, working at a pediatric clinic. John achieved the rank of Sergeant and was a proud military veteran.

After his discharge from the Army, John attended the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, earning his Master's degree in School Psychology in 1974. He worked as a school psychologist for CESA 11, primarily serving the Turtle Lake, Prairie Farm, Luck, and Cameron school districts. After retiring in 2005, John was called back several times by CESA 11 to assist various districts. He greatly enjoyed his work in the schools. 

John and Nancy were married for 58 years. Together, they had two daughters and five grandchildren. Family was incredibly important to John. He loved his siblings and cherished time spent with them and their families. He also treasured the countless hours spent with his in-laws and especially enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren in everything they did. 

John was always busy and loved life. He had a knack for telling jokes and stories, always making people laugh. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, deer hunting, playing cards, carpentry, spending time with friends, and buying, fixing, and selling cars. 

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; children, Erika (Jeff) Koenig and Greta (Darrin) Homme; grandchildren, Henry, Ella, Milo, Elara, and Brynn; siblings, Evelyn (Harry) Landbo, Harry (Marilyn) Nielsen, Nancy Finbraaten, Esther Marshall, and Martha (John) Coulter; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

John was preceded in death by his siblings, Jean (Lloyd) Urbanek, Eleanor (Dutch) Riedemann and Ruth Heggen; brothers-in-law, Larry Finbraaten and Hugh Marshall.