Arne NIELSEN

NIELSEN, Arne
July 7, 1925 - July 2, 2013
Arne Nielsen passed away on July 2, 2013 in the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary five days short of his 88th birthday. Arne is survived by his wife, Valerie; sons: Harry, Aksel, Paul (Jan), Garry (Catherine), Robin, Brian and Allan (Margaret) and favorite daughter, Dianne. Also mourning his passing are grandchildren: Erik (Chloe), Troy, Dana and Leigh and his sisters: Ruth and Miriam (Dean). Arne was predeceased by four of his six siblings, his first wife, Evelyn and beloved son, Kent. Arne was born on a farm near Standard, Alberta of Danish settlers, Aksel and Marie Nielsen on July 7, 1925. After years on the farm he was rescued by the outbreak World War II which gave him the opportunity to join the Canadian Army where he was in the tank corp. and eventually to gain an education at the taxpayer's expense. He attended University of Alberta and received his BSc and MSc in geology and commenced working in the oil and gas industry. Arne was a success in that industry being credited with leading the teams that discovered some of the largest fields in Western Canada (including the Pembina Oilfield), offshore Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. He was The CEO of a number of corporations including Mobil Oil Canada, Canadian Superior Oil, Poco Petroleums and Shiningbank Energy. He served as a director for various organizations including The Toronto-Dominion Bank, Aetna Insurance, Vaalco, Rockwell International Canada, Phillips Cable and many small oil and gas corporations. Arne acted as Chairman of the Canadian Petroleum Association on two occasions including leading the industry response to the National Energy Program. He also raised money for United Way, Council for Canadian Unity and The Calgary Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Arne received much deserved recognition during his long career including numerous lifetime memberships, admission into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame (1998) and an Honorary PhD from the University of Alberta. Arne never forgot his Danish roots and acted as Consul in Alberta for the Danish Government for many years. Despite living in New York, Houston, Regina, Toronto and Denver and travelling the world on business and for pleasure, Calgary was always home and Arne was always a proud Albertan. In his spare time he enjoyed reading everything (especially newspapers), watching the news and rooting for the New York Yankees and Montreal Canadiens - he was a lifetime fan of both of those teams. In his eighties Arne wrote a book 'We Gambled Everything' about the oil and gas industry that was a non-fiction number one bestseller in Calgary. Above all he was a dedicated family man, a good friend to many and a great guy. Arne will be missed. The family would like to thank the doctors and staff in Unit 72 at the Rockyview Hospital for their compassionate and highly professional care. A Funeral Service will be held at Christ Church Elbow Park (3602 - 8 Street SW, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Graveside Service to follow at Mountain View Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations in Arne's name may be made directly to Calgary HandiBus Association(231 - 37th Avenue NE, Calgary Alberta, T2E 8J2). To express condolences please visit www.mountainviewmemorial.ca. Arrangements entrusted to Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Funeral Home, Reception Centre & Crematorium, 1605 - 100 Street SE Calgary, AB (403) 272- 5555.