David (Dave) Eric Nielsen

David (Dave) Eric Nielsen, 80, passed from this life on June 6, 2022, in Springfield. He was born Dec. 17, 1941, in Saint Paul, Minn. He attended Alexander Ramsey High School and then served in the Navy for three years as a FTG2 on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Randolph, which took him around the world and most notably to the Cuban blockade. He was a recent resident of Battlefield, but called Gainesville his home for most of his adult life.
Nielsen was married to the love of his life, Juanita, on July 30, 1966, and they enjoyed 53 years together until her passing in March 2020. From their marriage, two children were born and several dogs were adopted.
Nielsen was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Juanita, and his parents Frantz and Evelyn Nielsen.
He is survived by daughter Laura Rankin and husband Tom; son John Nielsen and wife Mindy; four grandchildren; brothers Doug Nielsen and wife Susan and Dennis Nielsen and wife Jana, and a host of family and friends.
Until vascular dementia robbed him of his mobility, he enjoyed canoeing, camping, long walks in the woods, Sudoku, and an ice cold Diet Coke at least once a day. He never met a state park he didn’t like.
Though he was employed in several different fields in his lifetime, from repairing mainframe computers to over the road trucking with Juanita, to driving a dedicated route for Fed Ex, his favorite “job” was working the 40 acres he built a passive solar house on in 1979.
Family received friends for a memorial visitation on from 5-6 p.m Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, 2001 W. Walnut lawn St., Springfield. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield.
Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home Ltd. DeGraffenreid – Wood Crematory.