Mr. Jim Nielsen

January 23, 1925 - June 5, 2013

JAMES FRANKLIN NIELSEN passed away at home on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. He was born in Brigham City, Utah on January 23, 1925 to Joseph C. Nielsen and Martha E. Parsons. He graduated from Box Elder High School in 1943 and joined the Air Force the next day. He served for three years as a radio/radar technician and spent time in the South Pacific. He married his high school sweetheart Dorene Dunn of Tremonton (who was still in high school at the time) on April 25, 1947 in the Logan Temple. He worked at Hill Air Force Base for 5 years, operated a service station in Tremonton for 2 years and then joined International Business Machines (IBM) where he worked for 30 years until he retired. During that time he and his family lived in 8 different states from New York to California. He retired while living in San Jose, California where he then began buying, fixing up and managing rental properties. He then moved back to Utah to be closer to family and lived in Orem for 25 years. Jim loved cars and was always fixing and working on them for his family, friends and his own enjoyment. He and Dorene loved to travel and visited many countries including England, Scotland, Ireland, China and Russia. After Dorene began a late career as a professional clown he adopted a persona of “Mister Jim” and worked along with her as puppeteer with his puppet friends “Ugi” and “Dirty Bird”. They were able to perform in schools, parties, clown conventions (in several countries) and on cruise ships. Jim got the acting bug and appeared in several movies (including “Rubin and Ed” and “Summer of the Eagle” (unreleased).) Jim was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thoroughly enjoyed serving in his the High Priest group and working at the Provo Temple. His parents, his wife and 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters preceded him in death. His surviving sister Ruth Messick (Harold) lives in Salt Lake City, UT. Jim and Dorene had three children Sherrie Stone (Bob) San Jose, California, Rex (Connie) Cedar Hills, Utah, and Dale (Lois Ann) Sandy, Utah, with 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. The family would especially like to thank dad’s caregiver Stephanie Tanner-Brown and the staff at Maple Creek Home Health & Hospice for their support and for their loving care for our father. A Viewing will be held Tuesday, June 11th at the Sunset Heights 6th ward chapel in Orem (500 S 600 W Orem, UT) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm; family and friends are invited to attend. There will be a Graveside Service at the Brigham City Cemetery (300 East 300 South, Brigham City, UT) on Wednesday, June 12th at 10:00 am. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.