Harold J. Nihsen
March 22, 1927 — October 1, 2011
Harold Joseph Nihsen was born on March 22, 1927 to Nicholas and Emma (Halm) Nihsen in Minden, Iowa. He attended Shelby Country School and Minden Public High School, graduating with the Class of 1945.
Harold joined the United States Navy on May 13, 1945 and served during World War II until his honorable discharge on July 19, 1946. After he returned home, he farmed with his father and brother in Minden. He met his future bride, Erma Horstmeyer, at a dance and the couple married on September 20, 1950 at her parent’s farm near McClelland, Iowa. Five children were born to this union: Robert, Don, Barb, Bev, and LaRae.
Harold bought a farm near Shelby in 1957 and he continued to farm until his retirement in 1994. Harold and Erma remained in Shelby. Harold was seldom seen without cookies and coffee and he enjoyed playing a German family card game (Schalfkopf) and pitch with his brothers. He was a man of tremendous wit and he could get a message across with only a few words.
Harold died on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of eighty-four years, six months, and nine days. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter LaRae, infant brothers Allen and Dean, and his brothers Kenneth and Virgil.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Erma Nihsen of Shelby, Iowa; children: Robert Nihsen and his wife Dixie of Shelby, Don Nihsen and his wife Rhonda Day of Gretna, Nebraska, and Barb Schwarz and Bev Nihsen, both of Omaha, Nebraska; brothers: Harley Nihsen and his wife Shirley of Minden, Iowa, Paul Nihsen and his wife Judy of Minden, Grant Nihsen and his wife Lois of Crescent, Iowa, and Elden Nihsen and his wife Beth of Council Bluffs, Iowa; seventeen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; sister-in-law LaVon Nihsen of Council Bluffs; other family members and friends.
Pastor Brian Wohlhutter officiated the 10:30 AM funeral service on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the United Church of Christ in Minden, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Harold Lansman, Neil Pauley, Gene Peters, and Leo Kenealy. Serving as casket bearers were Jim Schaben, Jr., George Wear, Danny Hall, Don Hanson, Don Herbst, and Wayne Bladt. Military Rites were performed by American Legion Post No. 437 at the Minden Cemetery.
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Harold joined the United States Navy on May 13, 1945 and served during World War II until his honorable discharge on July 19, 1946. After he returned home, he farmed with his father and brother in Minden. He met his future bride, Erma Horstmeyer, at a dance and the couple married on September 20, 1950 at her parent’s farm near McClelland, Iowa. Five children were born to this union: Robert, Don, Barb, Bev, and LaRae.
Harold bought a farm near Shelby in 1957 and he continued to farm until his retirement in 1994. Harold and Erma remained in Shelby. Harold was seldom seen without cookies and coffee and he enjoyed playing a German family card game (Schalfkopf) and pitch with his brothers. He was a man of tremendous wit and he could get a message across with only a few words.
Harold died on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of eighty-four years, six months, and nine days. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter LaRae, infant brothers Allen and Dean, and his brothers Kenneth and Virgil.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Erma Nihsen of Shelby, Iowa; children: Robert Nihsen and his wife Dixie of Shelby, Don Nihsen and his wife Rhonda Day of Gretna, Nebraska, and Barb Schwarz and Bev Nihsen, both of Omaha, Nebraska; brothers: Harley Nihsen and his wife Shirley of Minden, Iowa, Paul Nihsen and his wife Judy of Minden, Grant Nihsen and his wife Lois of Crescent, Iowa, and Elden Nihsen and his wife Beth of Council Bluffs, Iowa; seventeen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; sister-in-law LaVon Nihsen of Council Bluffs; other family members and friends.
Pastor Brian Wohlhutter officiated the 10:30 AM funeral service on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the United Church of Christ in Minden, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Harold Lansman, Neil Pauley, Gene Peters, and Leo Kenealy. Serving as casket bearers were Jim Schaben, Jr., George Wear, Danny Hall, Don Hanson, Don Herbst, and Wayne Bladt. Military Rites were performed by American Legion Post No. 437 at the Minden Cemetery.
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