Randy Norman Nielsen 1955-2005

NIELSEN, JESCHKE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/1/2009 at 19:51:45

Randy Nielsen
October 24, 1955 – January 29, 2005
Randy Nielsen, age 49 of Mapleton, Iowa died Saturday, January 29, 2005 in Onawa, Iowa.

Services were held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 1 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton with Msgr. Mark Duchaine officiating. Burial was in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery. Bonita Kane was the organist for the service and music was by St. Mary's Choir. A vigil wake service was held at 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Randy Norman Nielsen was born October 24, 1955, at Denison, Iowa, the son of Norman and Betty (Jeschke) Nielsen. He grew up in the Danbury and Mapleton area. In the summer of 1973, between his junior and senior year of high school, Randy sustained a serious head injury while flagging for a crop duster. Although his hospitalization and rehabilitation was long and intense, Randy went onto graduate with his class in May of 1974. He worked for Aalf's Manufacturing in Sioux City for 20 years. After retiring six years ago, he returned to Mapleton where he resided until his death Saturday, January 29, 2005.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton. Randy demonstrated the true meaning of being a "gentle spirit." Though he lived with a significant physical handicap after his accident, he was always optimistic and commented often how others "had it worse" than he did. Randy was always a friend to everyone and a wonderful uncle to all his nieces and nephews. His sense of humor and quick wit made him a joy to be around.

Those survivors left to cherish their memories of Randy include his mother, Betty Nielsen, of Mapleton, Iowa; two brothers and their wives, Steve and Debbie Nielsen of Wichita, Kansas and Alan and JoAnn Nielsen of Mapleton, Iowa; one sister, Cindy Nielsen of Farmington, Minnesota; his maternal grandmother, Frieda Jeschke of Denison, Iowa; and seven nieces and nephews, Melanie Cunningham, Shawn Gilmore, Karen, Brenda, Marty, and Jesse Nielsen, and John Batteen; along with several other relatives and numerous friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Norman; his maternal grandfather, Carl Jeschke; and his paternal grandparents, Mike and Rose Nielsen.

Pallbearers were David Friedrichsen, Richard Nielsen, Marty Nielsen, James Else, John Babl and Paul Dose.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton.