Duane Nielsen

Duane Dale Nielsen was born June 17, 1943, the son of Carl Clifford and Ordena (Kruckberg) Nielsen in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and passed away Friday, November 2, 2012, at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa.

He grew up in California, graduating from the Long Beach High School. He entered the Army in 1968, serving in Viet Nam from May 30, 1969, to April 15, 1970. He was honorably discharged from active duty on September 5, 1972, and from the Army Reserves on October 10, 1974.

Duane moved to Oregon where he married June Peterson, and helped raise her four children. He attended Western Business College in Oregon and earned a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Duane later moved to Iowa where he met and married Vicki Lee Thomas.

Through the years, Duane was employed as an over the road truck driver and also as an ambulance driver. As a young man, he enjoyed surfing off the California coast.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Ordena Nielsen; his brothers, Darrell Nielsen and Devin Nielsen; his sister, Donna Hebdon; and his sister-in-law, Bonnie Nielsen.

Duane is survived by his wife, Vicki Nielsen; his step-children, Jill Ray of Atlantic, Larry (LeAnn) Peterson, Paula (Pat) Llanes, Jerry Peterson and Shelly Peterson all of Oregon; and his grandchildren, Taylor Jessen, Spencer Ray and Brynna Ray all of Atlantic and Ashlyn Peterson and Claire Llanes both of Oregon; his sisters, Diane Bradley of New York, Darlene Johnson of Ohio and Doreen Fox of New York; his brothers, David Nielsen of California, Donald Nielsen of Oklahoma and Doug Nielsen of California; other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held Monday, November 12, 2012, at 1:00 pm. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic with lunch to follow in the Hockenberry Community Room.

Burial with military rites will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery at 3:00 pm., also on Monday, November 12, 2012.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.