Gerold A. Nissen 1935 - 2017

CARLSEN, NISSEN, WOOD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/16/2017 at 11:04:24

Sioux City Journal
15 January 2017

MOVILLE, Iowa | Gerold A. Nissen, 81, of Moville, formerly of Cushing, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at his residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Moville, with the Rev. Janet Rieckhoff-Faris officiating. Burial will be in Cushing Cemetery, with military honors by American Legion, Baumann Post 624 of Cushing. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, with family present, at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rohde Funeral Home in Kingsley, Iowa. Online condolences may be directed to the family through www.rohdefh.com.

Gerold was born on May 6, 1935, at Cushing, to Fred and Ella (Carlsen) Nissen. He attended school at Grand Meadow until the third grade. Then the family moved to Cushing, where he attended school through the ninth grade, after which he had to stay home to help with the farming. He later worked as a hired hand for Gunnard Carlsen at Pierson, Iowa, until he entered the armed service. That gave him the opportunity to earn his general education diploma (GED).

He took his basic training in the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was stationed at Castro Valley, Calif., for the remainder of his service time with A-Battery of the 740th. It was a Nike Missile Base. Its purpose was to defend the west coast from enemy air strikes. Gerold stayed in touch with six of the members of the 740th over the years and at their reunions they always said how good a job they did in defending the west coast from air strikes as they didn’t have any on their watch.

He received his discharge on Dec. 14, 1956. He returned home to farm in partnership with his father. He married Margaret Wood on Dec. 14, 1958, at the Church of Christ in Anthon, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Julie, David and Gary. He loved and enjoyed the company of his children and grandchildren. It didn’t matter if they were working or playing, he was happy to be with them. There was lots of work to do on the farm and he would remind his kids from time to time, "That his job was to teach his kids how to work because they would learn to dance by themselves.”

Gerold and Margaret purchased the farm from his parents when they retired and moved to town in 1967. He had the honor of being selected a Master Swine Producer for the state of Iowa in 1966. He had been raising hogs since the age of 12. He cherished that honor.

Gerold served one year on the Junior Board for the Pierson Farmers Elevator and six years as a director. He served four years on the Eastwood School Board, as well as one year as president of their Quarterback Club. He was a member of the American Legion Baumann Post 624 at Cushing, and served as president for two years. He served on the Woodbury County Extension Council for six years. He served as president on the church board for both the Church of Christ in Anthon and Correctionville, as well as being a Sunday school teacher. He joined the Moville United Methodist Church when they moved to Moville, and served on the Endowment Committee. He was a member of the Masons Trial Lodge 532 at Moville.

He enjoyed music which included singing for weddings and funerals. His most requested song to do was “The Cattle Call.” Gerold enjoyed flying his private airplane. He was a member of the Flying Farmers. He flew for over 30 years and logged many hours doing what he loved to do in his spare time. He had a hanger and airstrip on the farm so when the urge to fly hit, he often dropped what he was doing and took off to the upper heights where he said it freed his mind of stress and strain. He loved traveling to various places around the world. The most memorable were the three trips to Germany to meet and visit with his aunt and cousins on his dad’s side of the family, as well as the two trips to Ireland to meet and get acquainted with his wife’s relatives there.

Gerold is survived by his wife, Margaret; children, Julie, David and Gary; grandchildren, Katie Nissen, Andrew Nissen, Brittany Nissen, Maggie Nissen, Erik Nissen, Connor Nissen, Will Grundy and Megan Grundy; and brothers, Harold, Donald and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Harry and Marcella Wood; and two brothers, Freddy in infancy and Larry.

Gerold would like to thank his family and friends for all the joy and happiness they brought him during his life.