Nielsen, Arnold "Arnie" Elroy 1928-2022

NIELSEN, JUHL, ZORN, VANVELDHUIZEN, SOHL

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting (email)
Date: 7/22/2022 at 18:50:09

Mr. Arnold Nielsen, age 94, of Hull, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2022, at the Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Monday, June 13, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at the American Reformed Church in Hull. There will be a funeral service on Monday, at 1:30pm, at the church with the Rev. Matt Polsdofer officiating. Interment will follow the service at the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Hull. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull is in charge of arrangements.

Arnold “Arnie” Elroy was born on May 25, 1928, on his family’s farm near Owen, the fourth child of Bertel and Martha (Juhl) Nielsen. He was raised in several northwest Iowa communities and graduated from the Rock Valley High School.

On January 6, 1950, he was united in marriage to Lois Zorn at the St. Paul Lutheran Church north of Hull. They made their home on a farm near Hull, where they raised their six children. He was a lifelong farmer and enjoyed caring for the animals and the crackling sound of cornstalks when discing in the spring. Lois passed away on September 7, 1984, in Rock Rapids, after more than 34 years of marriage.

After retiring from farming, Arnie moved into Hull, and on January 8, 2010, he was married to Pearl (Van Veldhuizen) Sohl. The couple first made their home in Hull until moving to Cobble Creek Assisted Living in Sheldon, where they briefly lived until becoming residents of the Rock Rapids Health Center.

Arnie was currently a member of the American Reformed Church, and a former member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he had been a part of the church’s choir. He enjoyed playing cards, playing Snooker or Pool at the Senior Citizen Club in Hull, fishing, and visiting with friends over coffee at the Cenex Station in Hull and riding his scooter up until his eyesight and physical strength made it impossible. He enjoyed playing Wahoo, listening to music, (especially gospel music) and listening to his talking Bible up until his final days. He was always looking forward to visitors.

Survivors include his wife of more than twelve years, Pearl, of Rock Rapids; six children, Charlotte Rath, of Rock Rapids; Kenneth Nielsen, and his wife, Nancy; and Martha, and her husband, Larry De Jong, all of Hull; Lisa, and her husband, Kevin Welch; and Diane Hofer, all of Sheldon; and Martin Nielsen, and his wife, Sandy, of Hull; nineteen grandchildren; forty great-grandchildren; two stepchildren, Luella, and her husband, Jeff Techen; and Glen Sohl, and his wife Tracy; three step-grandsons; and a brother and his wife, Phil and Wilma Nielsen, of South Sioux City, Nebraska; a sister-in-law, JoAnn Zorn, of Eagan, Minnesota.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, LeRoy Rath; an infant grandson, baby Rath, an infant great-grandson, Logue De Groot; two sisters, Helen Eckstein; and Lillian, and her husband, Wendell Toenjes; and two brothers, Harold Nielsen, and his wife, Florence; and Edwin Nielsen.

Arnie will always be remembered for his faith, his love for his family and friends, how content he was no matter what, his kind heart and his gentle spirit.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.