Norman Lee Nissen

Norman Lee Nissen, the son of Einer and Mildred (Rasmussen) Nissen, was born in the family home west of Audubon, Iowa on August 16, 1942, and passed away on July 26, 2016, at Methodist Hospital Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., at the age of 73 years, 11 months and 10 days.
A life rooted in family heritage and tradition, Norman grew up on the family farm west of Audubon with his parents and two sisters, Vernette and Marcia. He was baptized and confirmed at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, a small country church on the rolling hills west of Audubon founded by a group of Danish immigrants that included his great-grandparents.
Norman attended Spring Valley Country School until the 8th grade. He graduated from Audubon Community High School with the Class of 1960. He started college at Dana College in Blair, Neb., but could not shake the desire to come home and farm with his father. He returned to Audubon to begin a lifelong career of farming.
In 1966, Norman married the love of his life, Lenise Clair Christensen, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. The couple spent the early years of their marriage farming south of Manning until moving their growing family to the Nissen family farm in 1976, where he continued to grow row crops and raise chickens, hogs and cattle. Four children were blessed to this union—Michelle, Brett, Novella and Genelle.
In 2005, after retiring from farming due to health conditions, Norman and Lenise moved to their current home in Audubon. Norman drove truck for WinField Solutions for 8 years before being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2015. In March 2016, Norman and Lenise celebrated 50 years of marriage with an intimate family party.
Over the years, Norman was very involved with the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, serving on its church council several times, attending Sunday School, singing in the choir, and playing men’s dartball. He served on the Salem Lutheran Homes Board and the Salem Lutheran Homes Foundation Board.
Extremely social, Norman loved to go “visiting,” and he could strike up a conversation with anyone he met. After retiring from farming, he enjoyed traveling with Lenise and was especially proud to visit Denmark, meeting extended family and seeing where his ancestors had lived, when they made a trip to Europe.
Most importantly, Norman cherished his family. He sang and danced with his wife, daughters and grandchildren. He laughed and told familiar jokes and stories. He made a daily trip out to the farm to check on his son Brett, and was amazed at how technology has changed the way the land is farmed. He talked current events and could remember historical events like no other. With his passing, we know that a wealth of stories have just been lost.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his sister, Vernette; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Leonard and Daisy Christensen.
Survivors include his wife, Lenise; his children Michelle Hjelle and husband Alan of Algona, Iowa, Brett and wife Stephanie of Audubon, Novella Chizek and fiancé Steven Schrader of Audubon, and Genelle Deist and husband Derek of Audubon; his grandchildren Bo and Emma Hjelle of Algona, Aaron and Luke Nissen of Audubon, Samantha and Shelby Chizek and Kelsie and Jordan Schrader of Audubon, and Jackson, Eli and Oliver Deist of Audubon; his sister Marcia Anciaux and husband Herb of Fort Meyers, FL; his brother-in-law Mark Klever of Dayton, IA; extended family and countless neighbors and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kelley Pedersen on Sunday, July 31, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery. The honorary casket bearers will be Emma Hjelle, Samantha Chizek, Shelby Chizek, Kelsie Schrader, and Jordan Schrader. The casket bearers will be Aaron Nissen, Luke Nissen, Bo Hjelle, Jackson Deist, Eli Deist, Oliver Deist, Norlan Rasmussen, Marvin Rasmussen, and Karl Albertsen. The family will meet with friends Saturday evening, July 30, 2016 from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.