John Howard Nielson

John Howard Nielson 1944 ~ 2007 John Howard Nielson passed away October 20, 2007 in Afghanistan. He was born July 31, 1944 to Joseph Leroy and Marian Gardner Nielson in Moab, UT. He graduated from San Juan High School, Blanding, UT. He was a superb athlete and participated in virtually all of the school's athletic programs. He was an All-State basketball and football player and was named to the National All-American High School Football team. Upon graduation, although he had a number of athletic scholarship offers, he elected to attend, for religious reasons, Brigham Young University, where he played on the BYU freshman baseball team. He later played on the championship basketball team for Snow College, and together with his brother Francis won the All-Church basketball tournament. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West German Mission from 1964-1966. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors degree in Languages, received his Masters Degree in Languages from the University of Arizona, and later earned his Doctorate in Languages (German Philosophy) from the University of Utah. He married his childhood sweetheart, Trudy Burtenshaw in the Salt Lake Temple and they were blessed with three children, later divorced. His employment included several years with Utah Power & Light as a Management Development Supervisor and at the U of U Continuing Education Dept. For the past 14 years he worked for various civilian contractors in many countries including Mongolia, Russia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova; most recently he served in Iraq and Afghanistan. His duties were to assist in the advancement of small business and other economic ventures with the local people. John was proud of his pioneer heritage and loved growing up in Blanding. He looked forward every summer to working with his father and his three brothers on the family cattle ranch on Elk Mountain. Riding horses, hiking the Bears Ears, looking for arrowheads, and summer baseball games were favorite pastimes. He was a generous and loving person, evidenced by the numerous students and others he assisted throughout the world. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many leadership and teaching positions. Above all, he loved his children and grandchildren. They were truly the pride and joy of his life. He spent his life being the best Dad he could be. He is survived by John-David Joseph, Nicole Thacker (Randall), Heston Hamilton, grandchildren Wyatt, Kaleb and Aspen Thacker, and brothers and sisters, Rhoda Jane Ashley, Virginia Black, Francis (Joe), Robert, and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Preston and a sister, Barbara, brothers-in-law Kent Black, and Lyman Ballif. Viewing to be held from 10-11 am with funeral services following on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, at the Emigration 4th Ward, LDS Chapel, located at 589 18th Ave., SLC, UT 84103. Interment in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.