Nielsen, Lori (Miss ) 1971-2007

NIELSEN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 1/24/2015 at 13:19:26

Source: North West Iowa Review (1-2007)

Born: July 1, 1971
Died: January 18, 2007

Lori Lynn Nielsen, 35, Rock Valley, died Thursday, January 18, at Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley.

Services were Monday, January 22, at Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with Pastor Mike Molenaar officiating. Burial was at First Reformed Cemetery in rural Everly, under the direction of Warner Funeral Home.

Lori Nielsen, daughter of Donald and Phyllis Nielsen, was born July 1, 1971, at an Iowa City Hospital. She came to live with the Nielsen in 1982. She completed her elementary grades in Spirit Lake, moving on to Spencer Junior High and High School through her junior year. During this time she played starting forward for the Okoboji High basketball team under Coach Marvin Anderson. While in Spencer schools, she ran anchor for the high school varsity 800-meter relay team, individual events and varsity cross country, which was her favorite. She continued her track team career with Sioux Center High School during her senior year. Upon graduation, she worked for the Sioux Center Community Hospital Dietary Department, specializing in making hundreds of cookies every week plus serving meals and general kitchen duties. After nine years of successful employment, she took a job with the Town and Country restaurant in Rock Valley, while working part time for Hope Haven Industries. A big highlight for her was helping put on stage productions for the Hope Haven community. She also participated in Hope Haven sports.
During her junior high school years she joined a teakwood club, earning a black belt. The move to Rock Valley found her in karate, where she also earned a black belt. When a teakwood instructor moved to Rock Valley, she renewed her teakwood training, almost regaining her black belt status when the first stages of her disease appeared.

She treasured her private time and space in her own apartment at Riverview. Housekeeping was not as much fun as sports, but she accepted the challenge of cooking for one and baking treats for her care staff.

Going to California, Boston and Branson, Missouri, as well as attending the Christmas shows in Chicago with LyNae and Chuck, was a thrill. Flying was not, but she was a good sport about it. Being at Universal Studios with cousin Stanley was a dream come true, even better than Disneyland.

She also discovered pro hockey games and boxing were pretty fun to watch, too. She loved “Ya Tec” and worked on the support teams as well. It was her church, church friends and the activities she found there that brought a special glow to her face and smile.

As time moved on, she was getting more limited in the things she could do. After five trips to Mayo Clinic, she was diagnosed on January 11 as having Lou Gehrig’s disease, a rare illness and she failed fast.

Survivors include her parents, Donald and Phyllis Nielsen of Milford; four sisters, Denise and Jeff Swinbank of Zumbro Falls, MN, Sheryl and David Phipps of Larchwood, LaNae and Charles Schleyer of Palos Heights, Illinois, and T.J. Nielsen of Rock Valley; and a brother, Dr. Douglas and LaCinda Nielsen of Rock Valley.