Duane Allen Nielsen

Duane Allen Nielsen, the son of Arnold and Vera (Baier) Nielsen, was born February 5, 1948, at his parents’ home in Audubon County near Exira, Iowa and died March 12, 2016, at his home in Exira, Iowa at the age of 68 years, 1 month, and 7 days.
Duane was baptized May 27, 1948, and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. He attended Exira Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1966. Duane then studied Agri-business at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.
On August 24, 1968, he was united in marriage to Jeanette Knudsen at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. They were blessed with three sons; Todd, Matthew, and Nathan. They lived in Maryville while Duane finished his studies. On July 18, 1969, Duane enlisted in The Army National Guard where he served as a fuel system operator. He was honorably discharged on July 17, 1975. While in college, Duane owned and operated his own livestock buying business. After he finished college they returned to Exira where he expanded his livestock buying business. He purchased the Exira Grain Elevator which he operated for several years. Duane, his brother and father purchased farmland. Duane and his father raised livestock for several years together. When his father retired, he was joined in the business by his son Matt and in 2008 his son Nathan joined them. Duane continued to help with the business taking more of an active management role as his health started to fail.
Duane was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. Duane enjoyed being in the outdoors where the air was fresh. He and Jeanette spent many hours walking and biking. He was an avid Iowa State Fan, and enjoyed watching all types of sports. He enjoyed playing golf, going to livestock sales, and traveling to Lake Okoboji. He loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren.
Duane was preceded in death by his father Arnold Nielsen; his sister-in-law Kathy Knudsen; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Vernon and Hazel Knudsen.
Survivors include his wife Jeanette Nielsen of Exira, Iowa; his sons Todd Nielsen and his fiancée Ellen Hay, Matt Nielsen and JeenLee, and Nathan Nielsen all of Exira, Iowa; his grandchildren Zoey Nielsen and Zander Nielsen; his mother Vera Nielsen all of Exira, Iowa; his brother Larry and wife Fran Nielsen of Ankeny, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Ronnie Knudsen of Atchison, Kansas, Judy and husband Lanny Jacobsen of Ankeny, Iowa and Claire and husband Tony Dirzness of McAlester, Oklahoma; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. The casket bearers will be Jeff Nielsen, Randy Nielsen, Darrell Nielsen, Craig “Bub” Sorensen, Dean Bauer, and Mark Kyhnn. The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening at 5:30 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.