Paul W. Nihsen
February 20, 1934 — February 3, 2012
Paul William Nihsen was born on February 20, 1934 to Nicholas and Emma (Halm) Nihsen in Minden, Iowa. He attended the Minden School and worked with his dad and brothers on the farm.
Paul married Judith Karrel Laing on March 4, 1955 at Epworth Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1956 and received his boot camp training in Fort Hood, Texas. He was stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia and Oahu, Hawaii until his honorable discharge.
After Paul returned home to Minden, he went to work for Jensen Construction in Minden for the next four years. He and Judy had three children: Nick, Kelly and David. In 1952, Paul went to work in Omaha, Nebraska for Leuder Construction for the next 16 years.
Paul was active in the American Legion and the United Church of Christ in Minden. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Minden for 25 years. He enjoyed hunting and trapping which he did for nearly 30 years. He was a Jack of All Trades and he would never turn someone down if the weather was below zero and their furnace went out. He re-roofed many homes after the 1976 Minden tornado.
Paul retired from Peter Kiewit after 20 years and after retirement, he and Judy enjoyed many years as snow birds living in Donna, Texas during the winters.
Paul entered the Midlands Living Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa in January of 2012 and this is where he died on Friday, February 3, 2012 having attained the age of seventy-seven years, eleven months and fourteen days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: infants, Allen and Dean, and Virgil, Harold and Kenneth.
He is survived by his wife Judy Nihsen of Minden, Iowa; his children: Nick Nihsen and his wife Lorie of Kevil, Kentucky, Kelly and her husband Mark Martin of Shelby, Iowa, and David Nihsen and his wife Kerri of Omaha, Nebraska; twelve grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; and brothers Harley Nihsen and his wife Shirley of Minden, Grant Nihsen and his wife Lois of Crescent, Iowa, and Elden Nihsen and his wife Beth of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters-in-law Erma Nihsen of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Lavon Nihsen of Council Bluffs; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
Pastor Brian Wohlhuter officiated the 11:00 a.m. funeral service at the United Church of Christ in Minden, Iowa on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Honorary pallbearers were: Joe Zimmerman, Bernard Alfers, Dennis Kay, Dean Olson, Jerry Michels and Bud Bandow. Military Rites were conducted by the Minden American Legion Post Number 437. Inurnment will be held at the Minden Cemetery in Minden, Iowa at a later date.
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Paul married Judith Karrel Laing on March 4, 1955 at Epworth Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1956 and received his boot camp training in Fort Hood, Texas. He was stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia and Oahu, Hawaii until his honorable discharge.
After Paul returned home to Minden, he went to work for Jensen Construction in Minden for the next four years. He and Judy had three children: Nick, Kelly and David. In 1952, Paul went to work in Omaha, Nebraska for Leuder Construction for the next 16 years.
Paul was active in the American Legion and the United Church of Christ in Minden. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Minden for 25 years. He enjoyed hunting and trapping which he did for nearly 30 years. He was a Jack of All Trades and he would never turn someone down if the weather was below zero and their furnace went out. He re-roofed many homes after the 1976 Minden tornado.
Paul retired from Peter Kiewit after 20 years and after retirement, he and Judy enjoyed many years as snow birds living in Donna, Texas during the winters.
Paul entered the Midlands Living Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa in January of 2012 and this is where he died on Friday, February 3, 2012 having attained the age of seventy-seven years, eleven months and fourteen days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: infants, Allen and Dean, and Virgil, Harold and Kenneth.
He is survived by his wife Judy Nihsen of Minden, Iowa; his children: Nick Nihsen and his wife Lorie of Kevil, Kentucky, Kelly and her husband Mark Martin of Shelby, Iowa, and David Nihsen and his wife Kerri of Omaha, Nebraska; twelve grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; and brothers Harley Nihsen and his wife Shirley of Minden, Grant Nihsen and his wife Lois of Crescent, Iowa, and Elden Nihsen and his wife Beth of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters-in-law Erma Nihsen of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Lavon Nihsen of Council Bluffs; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
Pastor Brian Wohlhuter officiated the 11:00 a.m. funeral service at the United Church of Christ in Minden, Iowa on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Honorary pallbearers were: Joe Zimmerman, Bernard Alfers, Dennis Kay, Dean Olson, Jerry Michels and Bud Bandow. Military Rites were conducted by the Minden American Legion Post Number 437. Inurnment will be held at the Minden Cemetery in Minden, Iowa at a later date.
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