Robert L. “Bob” Nielson, age 84, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Reverend Bruce Lawler at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2006 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Storm Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.

Friends may call at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake on Sunday, June 25, 2006 from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m., where the family will be present from 6:00 until 8:00.   A Parish Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary recitation at 7:30 p.m., both at the funeral home.

Bob was born July 29, 1921 to Leon and Alta (Richter) Nielsen in Sac City, Iowa. He moved to Storm Lake with his parents at the age of 10 years and commenced attending classes in the Storm Lake School, where he graduated from high school in 1940.

After high school graduation, Bob attended Aviation Industries School and worked at Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas as an aircraft metal smith.

On August 16, 1942, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Illusion Islands and the South Pacific as Radarman Third Class on the U.S.S. Dale. He was honorably discharged on October 2, 1945.

Bob and Marie Smith were united in holy matrimony on January 7, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. The couple was blessed with four children: Jacqueline, Jolene, Jane and Kenneth.

Bob was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Church and was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. In 1983, he retired from Iowa Public Service (now MidAmerican Energy) after 35 years of employment. Bob then worked for Paradise Pork for the next eight years. Following that, he worked for Fitzpatrick Auto for eight years.

Bob enjoyed playing golf, shooting pool and playing cards.  He was a loving husband and devoted father. He loved spending time with his family and took great pleasure in family vacation trips. Those trips left his family with many fond memories.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Marie of Storm Lake; his daughter, Jolene (Les) Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska;  daughter Jane Tuttle of Omaha, Nebraska; son Kenneth (Karla) Nielson of Tracy, California; grandchildren: Amy Wolfe of Littleton, California; Matt Medlock, Jason Anderson, Nickolas Anderson, Elizabeth (Anderson) McFadden, Sarah Tuttle and Megan Tuttle, all of Omaha, Nebraska; Allison Nielson of Suisun, California; Mitchel Nielson of Sacramento, California; and Ben Nielson of Suisun, California; great-grandchildren: Grace Wolfe, Henry Medlock, Leah Nielson, Gwyneth Medlock and Braydon McFadden; brother and sister-in-law, Leonard and Arlene Nielson of Storm Lake; sister-in-law, Alyce Nielsen of Storm Lake; many nieces and nephews, extended family and a host of friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; daughter and son-in-law, Jacqueline and George Medlock; brother Harold Nielson; an infant sister, and twin great-granddaughters.