Nielsen, W. Clayton (1923 - 2020)

NIELSEN, PHOENIX, ROBINSON, JENSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/3/2021 at 14:12:40

Name of deceased: W. Clayton Nielsen

Aged: 97 yrs, 2 mo, 6 days

Residence: Elk Horn, Shelby County, IA

Born: May 14, 1923; Diamond Lake, Kandiyohi County, MN

Died: July 20, 2020; Solvang, Santa Barbara County, CA

Funeral services: Saturday, Sep. 25, 2021; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kimballton, IA

Survived by: Children, Pastor Warren (spouse, Erin) Nielsen, Lance (spouse, Wende) Nielsen, and Melanie Phoenix (spouse, Teresa Robinson); grandchildren, Chad, Joy, Ross, Sarah, Ashley, Kirstin, and Rachel Nielsen; 6 great-grandchildren; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Harald and Alma Nielsen

Education: A quick learner, he was allowed to graduate early from high school; In 1940, at age 17, he headed to Grand View College in Des Moines, IA. After receiving an Associate of Arts degree from Grand View College in 1942, Clayton went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. He then returned to Des Moines to attend Grand View Seminary. Clayton was not yet 24 years old when he was ordained to the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church on Feb. 9, 1947. In 1980, Clayton completed postgraduate studies through Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

Religious affiliation: Lutheran; after retiring to Solvang, CA., he was an active member at Bethania Lutheran Church there.

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Ydun Virginia Jensen; June 27, 1947; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kimballton, IA

Employment: Ordained Lutheran minister, working in many communities throughout his career; Clayton felt blessed to be able to serve his church beyond his individual parish, starting the first year he was ordained, when he was elected to serve on the Santal Mission Committee of the DELC (Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church), a mission which has since merged with the World Mission Prayer League. In the 1940s, Clayton was elected president of the Danish American Young People’s League. He was a DELC delegate at the 1950 constituting convention of the National Council of Churches in Columbus, Ohio. Clayton served on the Evangelism Commission of national Lutheran church bodies and was elected to the Nebraska Synod Board while serving in Omaha. He retired in 1988.

Hobbies/Interests: From his early years with Virginia, he took up folk dancing and taught it for decades.

Sources: harlanonline.com; mykeeper.com