Ivan Nielsen

REV. IVAN E. NIELSEN 92 years of age, Born in 1918 and passed away 2010. Ivan passed on April 16, 2010. He was attended by his daughter Michelle during the last two weeks of his life. Ivan was born April 5, 1918 to Harald P. and Thyra (Ostergaard) Nielsen near Badger, South Dakota. At two years old he moved with his parents and three older brothers to Tyler, Minnesota where he graduated from high school in 1936. He attended Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa 1938-1940. In 1942 he joined the U. S. Army Air Corps and spent his next forty-one months, mostly, in the Pacific Theater during World War II, achieving a rank of Staff Sergeant. Following discharge from the service and three years in private business, he attended Pacific Lutheran College, University of Nebraska Graduate School, and Grand View Seminary. He was ordained in 1954 and served churches in five states before becoming an institutional chaplain in Tucson where he served at St. Mary's Hospital, Lutheran Social Ministry of Arizona, Hillhaven Hospice, and the Veterans Hospital. In the 1970's Nielsen helped establish the Arizona Hospital Chaplains Association and became its third president in 1975. Later he helped establish the chaplaincy and CPE program at University Medical Center. He was a member of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church(Danish) until that synod merged to become Lutheran Church in America. Nielsen wrote the book, "My Parents' Ten Children" and was editor of the book, Attracted To America In 1952 he married Irene Bach and they adopted two daughters, Linda and Michelle. His was predeceased by his parents, wife Irene, daughter Linda, brothers Arne, Viggo, Norval, Erling, and Ove, sisters, Ruth and Naomi and grandson David Barber. Surviving him are daughter Michelle DeLaney, grandchild, Nicholas Errico, brother, Milton, and sister, Mary Arment. His Memorial Service will be held at 1 PM on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 11575 N First Ave, Oro Valley, AZ 85737. Memorials may be sent to Resurrection Lutheran Church to be used for expenses incumbent to the end of Ivan's life.