Gary Nielsen (1949-2018)

Gary L. Nielsen, 68, a resident of Kenosha, died peacefully with his
daughter at his side on Monday, April 23, 2018, at the Hospice Alliance
Hospice House in Pleasant Prairie, WI, after a courageous battle with
cancer. Gary was born on October 6, 1949, the son of the late Niels P.
Nielsen and Geraldine V. (Larson) Nielsen. He attended local schools
and graduated from Tremper High School in 1968. He served in the
U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, including a year in Vietnam, and was
Honorably Discharged as a SPC 4. He was employed at the American
Brass in Kenosha from 1968 to 1999; upon retirement, he worked
various part-time jobs.
On October 9, 1976, he married the love of his life, Kelley Loef. She
preceded him in death in 2004.
Gary was a skilled woodworker and gardener, and he could basically fix
anything. He loved to be outside in the summer, tending to his flowers
and vegetables and cooking on the grill. He was a lifelong Packers fan
and recently took an interest in baseball and was able to watch some
amazing Cubs games with his daughter, Tracy.
He is survived by his daughter, Tracy L. Nielsen, Wadsworth, IL, and
sister, Susan Nielsen, Kenosha, and many loving nieces, nephews, and
friends.
Besides his parents and his wife, he was predeceased by his brothers,
Roger A. Nielsen and Richard K. Nielsen ; sister Jerilynn (Jack) Marron
and twin sister Gayle (Robert) Hannes; and mother in law, Dorothy
Loef.
Tracy and the family would like to thank our lifelong friend, Pat
Ventura, for all of the support and assistance she provided over the
past year. We are also extremely thankful for the care team at
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, especially Dr. Sheelvanth, and
our favorite nurses – Becky, Lindsey, Juli, and Hazel, as well as our
favorite scheduler, Val. We would also like to extend our gratitude to
the angels at the Hospice Alliance; they were a true blessing over the
last several days!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday April 30, 2018
at 11:00AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (corner of 73rd Street and 39th
Avenue). Visitation will take place on Sunday April 29, 2018 at the
Woman’s Club in Kenosha (6028-8th Avenue) from 5:00PM until 7:30PM
and again on Monday at the church from 10:00AM until the time of
mass. Burial will take place at St. James Catholic Cemetery.