Nielsen, Gunnar (1925 - 2016)

NIELSEN, MARCHANT, HULSEBUS, MARCHANT, GEARY, HILDEBRAND, MUCHA, ALLEN, LUND

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/1/2016 at 16:12:21

Name of deceased: Gunnar Arne Nielsen

Aged: 91 yrs, 1 mo, 22 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: July 14, 1925; Audubon, IA

Died: Sep. 5, 2016; Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Private family services; burial was in the Minden Cemetery, Minden, IA

Survived by: Son, Jeff Nielsen of Harlan, IA; daughter, Pam (Hulsebus) Marchant of Mountain Home, ID; grandsons, Jason Nielsen of Harlan, IA, Jacob Nielsen of Irwin, IA, Darcy Geary (spouse, Norine) of Homedale, ID, Brandon Hildebrand (spouse, Leslie) of Rexburg, ID; 10 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; former wife, Faye Nielsen of Harlan, IA; nieces; nephews; friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Kirstine N. (nee Nielsen) and Mads Ingvard Nielsen; sisters, Dagny Nielsen, Gudrun Mucha, Edith Allen, Betty Lund; granddaughter, Tonia Geary

Education: no information provided

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: Entered the U. S. Army Air Corp in July 1943 and was eventually trained in aircraft armament and assigned to the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron of the 417th Bombardment Group; originally assigned to Europe, at the last minute was reassigned to the Western Pacific and served in China, Southern Philippines, Luzon and Japan after the Japanese surrender. He was awarded the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with One Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal; honorably discharged on Jan. 23, 1946 as a Staff Sergeant at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. He then enlisted in the U. S. Air Force Reserves the same day, serving until Nov. 1, 1952.

Marriage: Faye Muller; early 1960’s; date and location not provided. They later divorced, but remained good friends.

Employment: After high school, he worked at his father’s butcher shop in Minden, IA until his entry in to the service.

Gunnar attended trade school at CAL-AERO Technical Institute in Glendale, CA, and earned an Airframe/Powerplant Maintenance Certificate; later he also earned his Inspection Authorization Certificate. In addition, he also became a pilot and, in 1955, his commercial pilot rating. In the 1950’s he worked at Boeing in Wichita, KS, as well as for Zekan-Robbins, a company in Harlan, IA, taking aerial farm photographs. In the early 60's, Gunnar became manager of the Harlan airport and met and married. The family relocated to Sioux City, then Storm Lake and eventually returned to the Harlan area. He worked at the airport in Harlan and in time became manager again in 1983. He later went to the Atlantic, IA airport and was Director of Maintenance for Trojan Flying Service.

Gunnar retired but continued to visit the airport daily, occasionally doing maintenance on aircraft until the time he was physically not able to. He was recently awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the FAA, an award which recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics.

Hobbies/Interests: enjoyed the yearly flight breakfasts, as well as attending the Carsons Farm Days, and reminiscing.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com