Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....NIELSEN, OTHO J. January 29, 2013 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com February 2, 2013, 12:42 am News Star World - February 01, 2013 OTHO J. NIELSEN Otho J. Nielsen was born November 12, 1925, to Callie Ashley Nielsen and Thomas C. Nielsen in Winnsboro, LA. He was one of thirteen children. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, at the age of 87, surrounded by his loving family. He proudly served in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific fleet aboard the USS Proteus AS19, a sub tender. After the war, he returned to Richland Parish where he met a beautiful brown-eyed lady, Gloria Beach, who fell in love with the handsome sailor, and they were married on May 24, 1946. He farmed for a short while and then began his career as a barber in Delhi, an occupation he learned while in the Navy. He was a barber in Delhi for 66 years and had many customers from several surrounding parishes. All of his six grandchildren and his only great-grandson were fortunate to get their first haircuts from their Pawpaw. Additionally, he drove a school bus for Delhi Schools for 20 years and made some lasting impressions on many students who rode his bus. Mr. Nielsen was an active member of Dunn Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, served on various committees, and sang in the choir and the quartet. He loved God and was eager to share his love for God with everyone he met. He was a member of the Delhi Masonic Lodge No.120 where he served as Worshipful Master several times. He was also a member of the Cattlemen's Association of Richland Parish. He raised cows and had some of the best grain-fed beef around. He planted a large garden until age 80 and always shared with the "old people" of the community and those who did not have fresh vegetables. He and his wife grew tomatoes and shared with everyone as both enjoyed being able to share God's bounty. Since retiring from the barbershop in November, 2010, due to failing health, he and his wife made many more friends with the Hospice and Home Health caregivers who visited them, the wonderful staff at the Delhi Dialysis Center, and his many doctors whom he saw on a regular basis. They soon discovered that when visiting Otho and Gloria's house, they were obliged to eat something and even to carry a goodie bag home to their families. Mr. Nielsen was preceded in death by his grandson, John Russell, his son-in- law Jim Russell, his parents Callie and Tom Nielsen, six brothers - Pharoah, Douglas, Curtis, Thomas, Jessie, and Buddy; four sisters Lela Wilcher, Mahamalea Fairchild, Lillian Knight, and Marguerite Smith. He is survived by his precious wife of 66-1/2 years Gloria Beach Nielsen (who took loving care of him especially during his illness), his children - Audrey and husband Jim Hammack of Oak Grove, Jerry and wife Ann Nielsen of Yukon, OK, and Billy and wife Kim Nielsen of Swartz; his grandchildren - Elizabeth Pazmino Emerson and husband Rollie of Woodstock, GA, Kelly Nielsen of Maumelle, AR, and Laura Nielsen of San Francisco, CA, Douglas Nielsen of Maumelle, AR, and Jeff Nielsen of Yukon, OK; his great-grandson, John Austin Emerson of Woodstock, GA; his step-grandchildren - Joel Hammack and wife Cindi of Des Moines, IA, Tony Hammack of Metairie, Jenny Hammack of Lake Charles; his brothers Shirley Nielsen and wife Mary of Rayville, and Willie Nielsen of Pioneer; his sister-in-law Jessie and husband Thomas Williams of West Monroe as well as a host of beloved nieces and nephews and many, many wonderful friends. Services will be held Saturday, February 2 at 2:00 p.m. at Dunn Baptist Church, Dunn, LA, with Bro. Charles Best, Bro. Bernard Duchesne, Jr. and Doug Nielsen officiating. Internment will follow at Newton Cemetery in Delhi. Visitation will be Friday 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Brown-Holley Funeral Home in Rayville, LA, and from noon to time of service at the church on Saturday. Pallbearers will be John Thomas, Troy Thomas, Roy Thomas, R. L. Lester, James Ogles, and Jim Nichols. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. George Edwards (who called every day to check on him) and his men's Sunday School class of Dunn Baptist Church. We will miss our precious husband, Daddy, and Pawpaw but we know that we will spend eternity with him; and we know he is enjoying Heaven and being with Jesus. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ouachita/obits/n/nielsen1815nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/lafiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb