Eric Nielsen

Eric Nielsen

Cedar Rapids

Eric Nielsen died at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the age of 90.

Eric loved the outdoors his entire life and was outside as much as possible. Despite many medical problems, he continued to spend time outdoors tending his lawn and chatting with and supporting his neighbors. He was able to continue this until about a month before his death when an abnormal heart rhythm and suddenly worsening heart failure severely curtailed his activity. He was admitted to St. Luke's hospital Tuesday, February 25 and his accumulated medical problems overcame his body's ability to adapt. Eric's family would like to commend St. Luke's hospital for the excellent care given to our father and grandfather and we are very grateful to our team, led by hospitalist Dr. Simoens, for the care he received there.

Eric was born in Santa Maria, California, where his parents, Hans and Astrid Nielsen, had gone to find work in the depression. They returned to Askov, Minnesota, the tight-knit Danish community that his grandparents helped create, while he was still an infant. He had a younger sister, Sonja, and a much younger brother, Karl. His father did custom farm work, getting the most up-to-date equipment and then hiring it out to help his community members. From working with him, Eric knew just about every family in the entire area. He made strong childhood friendships that persisted till death and tried to keep track of as many of the families in the community as possible, a task in which his sister, Sonja, who remained in Askov, assisted him. The entire family hunted and fished, both together and with friends. The Nielsen family were all exceptionally good shots and several of them won medals in competitive shooting, including Eric. Eric was good enough that he was in competition for the Olympics in shooting when he was in college, but lack of money for the correct equipment and lack of time made him decide to give up the attempt. He kept shooting until he couldn't any more, still earning medals in his 80's

Eric's first language was Danish, however as the Askov schools changed to English the year Eric started school, the family changed to English in the home to make it easier for him. Eric retained little of his Danish, except for the swear words. Eric excelled in school, having a special facility in math and graduated valedictorian. He went on to get a bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota in Mathematics. He said if he had it to do over again, he would have gotten an engineering degree. His career ended up being in quality control engineering. He worked with teams at Honeywell in Minneapolis, and then at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids. He says he avoided the draft because he was working on the guidance controls of missiles, and his supervisors thought his input was valuable enough that they told the draft board he was more valuable to the war effort where he was. He did not particularly like to fly but had a lifelong interest in airplanes due his work with them.

On June 11, 1955, he married Joyce Jensen. She was one year older than him and in their small community, they had combined classes every other year. He was the love of her life, and he said she made his life worth living. They had 67 years together. He supported her through two terms in the lowa State legislature. They shared values and friends. She was the more outgoing and he was her safe space to recharge and share the crazy chaos that her myriad activities made her life. He was happy to be her support and sounding board and was an exceptional listener.

Eric was proceeded in death by his parents, brother, sister, and wife.

Surviving Eric are his daughter, Dr. Cindy Nielsen; granddaughter, Estephanie Nielsen; nephew, Sherman Ullereng; and nieces, Kristi Ullereng, Nancy Nielsen, and Michelle Marie Nielsen.

A Memorial Service will be held at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, at a later date. Burial will be in Askov, Minnesota, to be planned with a Gathering of Friends and Family.

Please share your support and memories with Eric’s family on his Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.