Our Family History
Russell Wayne NIELSEN[1]
1922 - 2010 (87 years)
1916 - 1997 (81 years)
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Name Russell Wayne NIELSEN Birth 17 Oct 1922 Douglas Township, Audubon, Iowa, United States 
Gender Male Death 25 Sep 2010 Exira, Audubon, Iowa, United States [2] Burial Arlington Heights Cemetery, Audubon, Audubon, Iowa, United States Siblings 3 Siblings 1. Margaret Isabelle NIELSEN, b. 23 Apr 1916, Polk Township, Shelby, Iowa, United States d. 14 Nov 1997, Bellflower, Los Angeles, California, United States (Age 81 years)
▻ Virgil Marshall Jaszarowski, m. 19422. Wilma Christine NIELSEN, b. 11 Mar 1918, Polk Township, Shelby, Iowa, United States d. 26 Oct 2004, Licking, Texas, Missouri, United States (Age 86 years)
▻ William Chester Kivett, m. 11 Mar 1945+ 3. Martin jens NIELSEN, b. 2 Jul 1920, Shelby, Shelby County, Iowa, United States d. 6 Mar 1992, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States (Age 71 years)
▻ Bertha Mae HANSEN, m. 6 Jul 19414. Russell Wayne NIELSEN, b. 17 Oct 1922, Douglas Township, Audubon, Iowa, United States d. 25 Sep 2010, Exira, Audubon, Iowa, United States (Age 87 years)
▻ Mary Jane Hunt, m. 24 Nov 1946Person ID I322356264111 Winnie Paul Scanlan Last Modified 14 Jan 2023
Father Jens Kaagaard NIELSEN, b. 1 Aug 1890, Fjelsø sogn, Rinds herred, Viborg amt, Denmark d. 25 Dec 1961, Los Angeles, Californien (Age 71 years) Mother Caroline ANDERSON, b. 14 Sep 1895, Polk, Shelby co, Iowa d. 5 Mar 1975, Audubon, Audubon, Iowa, United States (Age 79 years) Family ID F69 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Mary Jane Hunt, b. 10 Oct 1927, Gray, Audubon, Iowa, United States d. 30 Apr 2010, Exira, Audubon, Iowa, United States (Age 82 years) Marriage 24 Nov 1946 Audubon, Audubon, Iowa, United States Last Modified 14 Jan 2023 Family ID F351 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Event Map 
Birth - 17 Oct 1922 - Douglas Township, Audubon, Iowa, United States 
Marriage - 24 Nov 1946 - Audubon, Audubon, Iowa, United States = Link to Google Earth
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Photos Russell Wayne Nielsen
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Notes - Russell Wayne Nielsen, the son of Jens Kogaard and Caroline Christine Anderson Nielsen, was born October 17, 1922, at his parents' rural home in Shelby County, Iowa and died September 25, 2010, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 11 months, and 8 days.
Russell was baptized and confirmed at the First Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa in 1947. He attended rural schools through the eighth grade and later received his high school diploma in 1970 by attending night classes through the Audubon School District GED program.
In March of 1945, Russell was inducted into the U.S. Army. During his tour of duty he served in Guam and the Philippines. He was honorable discharged in December of 1946 and returned to the Audubon area to farm.
On November 24, 1946, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Hunt at her parents' home in Audubon, Iowa by Rev. Hugo Orf. Two children, Susan and Ron were born to this union.
They lived on and operated several different farms in and around Audubon County. These farms included living south of Fiscus, near Bayard, Iowa, in Melville Township, and near Viola Center, Iowa, before farming in the Brayton, Iowa area.
Russell's daily chores included milking the cows twice a day, separating the cream, and "slopping" the hogs with milk. They sold their cream to the Crystal Springs Creamery in Kimballton, Iowa and their eggs to the Audubon Produce in Audubon, Iowa. In addition to dairy cows, Russell raised beef cattle, sheep, chickens, and ran a farrow to finish hog operation.
They retired from farming on February 28, 1980 and moved to Atlantic, Iowa.
Russell was employed at the Atlantic Junior High School as a custodian. He enjoyed being around the children and they appreciated his kindness and interest fondly referring to him as "Grandpa". He retired from the custodian position in 1997 then worked part time as a security guard for the School until he finally retired in 2001.
They enjoyed their home in Atlantic and then moved to the Exira Care Center in March of 2008.
Mary Jane died April 30, 2010.
Russell became a member of the Brayton Lutheran Church in the fall of 1974. He was also a member of the Brayton Post #350, American Legion and had served as Adjutant for many years.
Russell loved fishing, reading, and listening to or telling a good story or joke. He also enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle, pitch, and solitaire.
Preceding him in death in addition to his wife, Mary Jane Nielsen, were his parents, his brother: Martin J. Nielsen; his sisters: Margaret and husband Virgil Jaszarowski, and Wilma and husband Bill Kivett.
Survivors include his children: Susan and Ronnie Swinford of Conception Junction, MO; Ron and LuAnn Nielsen of West Des Moines, IA; his grandchildren: David and Beth Swinford of Smithville, MO; Haley and Clete Silverthorn of Ankeny, IA; Charles Swinford of Conception Junction, MO; Patrick and Becky Swinford of Barnard, MO; Lauri Nielsen and fiancé Stu Wessels both of Ames, IA; Andrew Swinford of St. Joseph, MO; his great-grandchildren: Connor Matthew and Case Richard Swinford of Smithville, MO; Madelyn Marie, Mackenzie Louise, and Maggie Sue Swinford of Barnard, MO; Sadie Diane and Colten John Silverthorn of Ankeny, IA; his sisters-in-law: Bertha Mae Nielsen of Audubon, IA, Ruth and Burdette Hansen of Bonita, CA; his aunt Elizabeth Anderson of Audubon, IA; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
Honorary casket bearers will be: Mark Johnson, Mike Haley Sr., Darwin Warner, Earl Wiechman, Kirk Knudsen, Bruce Hoegh, Winston Hoegh, Terry Johnson, Larry Nelson, Andre Sampson, and Jeremy Best. The casket bearers will be his grandchildren: David Swinford, Charles Swinford, Haley Silverthorn, Lauri Nielsen, Patrick Swinford, and Andrew Swinford.
Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Steven Frock at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa.
- Russell Wayne Nielsen, the son of Jens Kogaard and Caroline Christine Anderson Nielsen, was born October 17, 1922, at his parents' rural home in Shelby County, Iowa and died September 25, 2010, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 11 months, and 8 days.
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Sources - [S1171896466] 1930 United States Federal Census, (MyHeritage), https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636581/russel-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census.
Russel NelsonGender: MaleBirth: Circa 1923 - Iowa, United StatesResidence: 1930 - Polk, Shelby, Iowa, USAAge: 7Marital status: SingleRace: WhiteLanguage: EnglishFather: Jens K NelsonFather's birth place: DenmarkMother: Caroline NelsonMother's birth place: Iowa, United StatesSiblings: Margaret Nelson, Vilma Nelson, Martin NelsonCensus: Township:PolkEnum. District:0021Line:79 County:ShelbySeries:T626Image:775 State:IowaRoll:682 Date:1930-00-00Sheet:1-B See household members<a id='household'></a>HouseholdRelation to head; Name; AgeHead; <a href="https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636576/jens-k-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census?s=435263871">Jens K Nelson</a>; 39Wife; <a href="https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636577/caroline-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census?s=435263871">Caroline Nelson</a>; 34Daughter; <a href="https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636578/margaret-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census?s=435263871">Margaret Nelson</a>; 13Daughter; <a href="https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636579/vilma-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census?s=435263871">Vilma Nelson</a>; 11Son; <a href="https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636580/martin-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census?s=435263871">Martin Nelson</a>; 9Son; <a href="https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636581/russel-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census?s=435263871">Russel Nelson</a>; 7
Event: Record
Role: 10134:170636581-:1575eb329d2fa3075b61fa5a63810b27 - .
Age:
87
- [S1171896466] 1930 United States Federal Census, (MyHeritage), https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10134-170636581/russel-nelson-in-1930-united-states-federal-census.