Darrell Nielsen

Darrell Theodore Nielsen, age 78, of rural Glidden, Iowa, passed away at his home on Monday, January 31, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Saturday, January 5, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Glidden with Rev. Jessica Rockhold Gaul and Rev. Duane O’Tool officiating. Visitation will be held at the Church from 1:00 P.M. on Saturday until the time of service. Organist for the service will be Mary Ross and soloist will be Esther Bane. Burial will be in the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Merle Hay Post of the American Legion. Casket bearers will be Loren Danner, Dave McNamara, Martin Danner, John Petersen, Jamie Petersen, and Bill Higgins. Honorary casket bearers will be Darrell’s grandchildren and Brooke and Bridget Graves. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. Anthony Hospice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home of Glidden. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Born on March 7, 1932 on the family farm northwest of Coon Rapids, Iowa, he was the son of Rasmus and Louise (Sorensen) Nielsen. He attended country school and grew up on farms in the Coon Rapids and Bayard area. In 1950 he graduated from Bayard High School. Darrell served from 1952 – 1954 as Sgt. First Class 45th division 160th Field Artillery during the Korean Conflict. He qualified for officer’s candidate school while serving and he had the job of Battalion Sergeant Major. He was very proud of his military service considering it a privilege to serve his country. After his military career he attended Iowa State University majoring in Agronomy. On June 5, 1955 he was married to Marjorie Graves at the United Methodist Church in Glidden. To this union were born two daughters: Marjean June and Diane Denise. The couple raised their family on the century farm in Carroll County located south of Glidden. In 1964 Darrell received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award from the Carroll JC’s. He was past president of Glidden Mutual Insurance Company and also past director. He was past Chairman of the Carroll County Pork Producers and he had served as the Chairman of the Carroll County Extension Council. He served on the Carroll County Drainage Board and served on the Glidden United Methodist Church Council as Administrative Chairman. His hobbies were gardening, electrical wiring, and square dancing. He is survived by his wife Marjorie of rural Glidden; two daughters: Marjean Tryon and her fiance Dr. Kendall Reed of Des Moines and Diane Kazynski and her husband David of Dike, Iowa; five grandchildren: Tanner Tryon, Mandy Lambersen and her husband Josh, Travis Tryon and his wife Lorrie, Justin Kazynski, and Shanon Kazynski; four sisters: Winona Huffman and her husband Ralph of Audubon, Iowa, Marie Nielsen of Audubon, Iowa, Annie Vincent and her husband Jerry of Jefferson, Iowa, and Judy Marques and her husband David of Livermore, Colorado; a sister-in-law Helen Nielsen of Coon Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Karl Nielsen and his wife Mary Jo, Howard Nielsen and his wife Dottie, and Paul Nielsen.