Earl Henry Nielsen

Earl Henry Nielsen was born March 17, 1935, in Brigham City, Utah, to Carl Henry Nielsen and Jennie Marble Nielsen. Earl was raised in Brigham City where during his early years he spent summers helping his grandfather on his fruit farm in Perry and Brigham City. His early education was in Brigham City. During those early years attending Box Elder public schools he made many life-long friendships.

These early years were filled with fun activities like the constant pounding of rocks being hit with a baseball bat for practice and catching the balls his dad threw to him. Earl loved baseball. His position on the team was always behind home-plate as catcher. Other favorite memories include sleeping outside in the summer in the little house in his back yard, flooding the backyard with water to make an ice-skating pond in the winter, the Saturday all-day movies in SLC, riding bikes and eating hamburgers. Earl loved to go on pheasant and duck hunting trips. On one occasion while duck hunting he nearly drowned when the boat he was in became unstable, filled with water, and sank. Miraculously, his life was saved that day because his father had told him to remove his rubber hip boots before getting into the boat.

Earl’s practice with a bat and ball paid off. In junior high school, Earl played on the high school baseball team. His talent as a baseball player was evidenced by being selected to play in the Utah State all-star game as a high school senior. He had many memories of good friends, and fun experiences in school. When dad was with his old high school friends, they would have the greatest time laughing and sharing stories of their “glory days”. Earl served as Junior Class President at Box Elder High School. He spoke of the tedious hours decorating and creating a twisted crepe-paper false ceiling for the Junior Prom. In high school, Earl was known for performing with his cornet with the assistance of “Alice Blue Gown”, a hand puppet that appeared to be pressing the cornet keys. Earl was also selected as a representative for Boys State and enjoyed some memorable experiences.

Earl attended the University of Utah for a short while but graduated from Utah State University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and played baseball for Utah State. He interrupted his schooling to serve an LDS mission in Finland where he loved the country and the people and fell in love with the language. Upon his return to Utah State, his love of language continued. He obtained a Masters of Education and taught German and Russian languages retiring from Jordan School District.

Earl was a member of the ROTC program at Utah State. After graduation, Earl completed “Officers Training Course” at Fort Lewis at the time of the Berlin Wall Crisis and was assigned as a Second Lieutenant to the Military District of Washington DC. Earl served for two years having an amazing experience doing investigation work for those receiving security clearances for the government. Another duty was serving as a member of the military cordon at state funerals and other events. This responsibility included attending President and Mrs. Kennedy’s departure and arrival from Washington DC as well as other dignitaries that came to consult with President Kennedy. Earl was released from this assignment just before the assassination of President Kennedy.

After returning from active duty, Earl became a member of the only Military Intelligence Linguistic Company in the U.S. (now a Battalion) where many life-long family friendships were made and many special summer vacations were provided for his family. Earl Retired from the military having obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Earl served as Commander of the Provo Linguistics Company during his final two years in the military.

Dad had significant hearing loss for half of his life. His hearing was permanently damaged when he was training soldiers on the shooting range. One day he came home with a terrible ringing in his ears. This is back in the day before the military issued hearing protection. Since his hearing was damaged, dad always wore hearing aids. As the years progressed, his hearing became worse and hearing aids alone were no longer helpful. In 2016, dad received a cochlear implant. Dad was always very self-conscious of his inability to hear and communication was a constant struggle. We are grateful that dad now has perfect hearing.

On August 20 1959, Earl married Ilona Jensen, of Bountiful, whom he met at Utah State University. He is survived by his four children:

Todd Earl Nielsen (Camille Roberts)

Troy Michael Nielsen (Carol Davis)

Tamara Nielsen Arbon (Todd J. Arbon)

Tricia Michelle Nielsen Allen (Mark R. Allen)

Earl and Ilona have 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Earl is survived by a brother, Rees, and many wonderful in-law brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandson Wyatt Earl Allen. Earl was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many church positions. He served a 2 1/2-year mission to Finland as a young man in 1956-1958. Thirty years later he returned to Finland with his wife Ilona to serve another mission in 1998-1999. Earl and Ilona returned once again to Finland to serve as ordinance workers in the Helsinki Temple in 2008-2009 and yet again as temple ordinance workers in 2018.

Earl and Ilona also served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois in 2004-2005. His mission service to Nauvoo allowed an opportunity to serve as an ordinance worker in the Nauvoo Temple for a few months as well as a performing missionary. For six months he was responsible for caring for the grounds at Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois. Earl found satisfaction in keeping the ground neatly manicured. He would say that he wanted the grounds at Carthage Jail to look just as good as the grounds at Temple Square. This was his way of honoring the memory of the prophet Joseph Smith.

His family will miss many things about Earl. We will especially miss his crazy Christmas tradition of his “Santa hand puppet” playing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on the cornet and Grandpa’s crazy Christmas auction. We love you Earl!

The family would like to express their gratitude to the special nurses at Intermountain Hospice for their kind and loving service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ - Humanitarian Fund.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Farmington Old Rock Chapel, 272 N. Main Street, Farmington, Utah. An evening viewing will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the church. A morning viewing will take place from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Saturday at the church prior to services.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.