Obituaries

Walter Haugaard Nielsen

Died April 20, 2014

 

LAKE LEELANAU – Walter Haugaard Nielsen, 88, of Lake Leelanau, passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Munson Medical Center.

  Walt was born on September 4, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Niels and Jensine Nielsen.  He served in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II. 

  Walt met his future wife, Jeanne Florian, at a USO canteen during the war. They were married January 3, 1947. 

  Walt graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  He had a 30 year career at Dow Chemical.  For many years Walt was a volunteer Boy Scout leader.  In 1983, he retired to Lake Leelanau to be near family.  During retirement he did volunteer work with the Leelanau Conservancy.

  Walt is survived by his wife, Jeanne; children, Nancy Dack, Richard Nielsen, Karen Nielsen (Fred Bimber), Jeffrey Nielsen, Judy Nielsen, Randy Nielsen (Marlene Goormastic), Mary Nielsen (Joe Wilson) and Jennifer Nielsen (Chuck Ransom); a sister, Edith Dunham; 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at 1 p.m. with a visitation held one hour prior at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  Burial will follow at the Keswick Maple Grove Cemetery.  Father Michael Janowski will serve as celebrant.

  Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 5228, Traverse City, MI 49696 and/or the Leelanau Conservancy, P.O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654.