John Nielson

1937 - 2010

John Deasy Nielson, 73, of Star Valley Ranch, Wyo., formerly of Rexburg, died May 16, 2010, surrounded by family, due to complications from leukemia.
He was born March 10, 1937, in Blanding, Utah, to Morgan Leon and Helen Deasy Nielson.
He attended schools in Blanding and after graduation worked as a truck driver hauling uranium ore in southern Utah. He then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Austrailia. Following that, he attended Brigham Young University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in history and political science. While attending BYU, he met and married the love of his life, Sharon Pendlebury of Blackfoot, in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1963.
Together they joined the Peace Corps, serving as elementary school teachers in Tanzania, East Africa, for a period of two years. From this experience John develped a love of traveling to different countries and learning about the people. After coming home, he obtained a master's degree in georgraphy from the University of Utah. They then moved to Indiana where he went to the University of Indiana, while he was working on a doctorate, he was offered a position in the geography department at Ricks College, where he taught geography and world affairs for 31 years, retiring in 1999.
Moving from Indiana to Rexburg, they began their family and raised six children, two boys and four girls.
John was an active member of the LDS Church. He served in two bishoprics, as a counselor in the Rexburg North Stake presidency and as a high counselor in a Ricks College stake. While in the Rexburg 1st Ward, he was high priest group leader and Young Men's president. He held numerous teaching positions and was currently secretary of the high priest group in the Thayne 1st Ward.
He and his wife served in the Idaho Falls Temple and then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Kenya Nairobi Mission.
As a young man, he enjoyed playing basketball and running, and he later developed a love for gardening, camping and outdoor activities. He loved reading, playing chess, woodworking and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharon, of Star Valley Ranch, Wyo., and children, Eric (Becky) Nielson of Sturgis, Mich., Anne (Dave) Boyack of Lava Hot Springs, Alisa (Bret) Webster of Tucson, Ariz., Kevin (JaNae) Nielson of Rexburg, Lucinda (Chris) Blackburn of Idaho Falls and Kelly Nielson of Boise; 15 grandchildren; and two sisters, Helen Shumway and Nancy Redd; and two half-sisters, Amy Sorensen and Alberta Albertano.
He was preceeded in death by his parents; one sister, Natalie Richards; half-sister Grace Nielson and grandson Brycen Blackburn.
The funeral service will be Friday at 11 a.m at the 1st Ward church building in Thane, Wyo. There will be a view ing prior to the service at 9:30 a.m., and also a viewing Thursday at 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Thane, Wyo.