Bernard Nielsen

Bernard Blaine Nielsen died Tuesday, December 14, 2010 from complications following surgery at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. He was 84. Bernard "Bernie" was born July 13, 1926 in Nampa to Flossie and Andrew Nielsen. After graduation from Kuna High School in 1944, he served in the Army Air Corps for two years, spending the last 10 months in Guam. Upon his return home, he went to Boise Junior College, where he played football in 1947 and '48 under Coach Lyle Smith, who commented once that "Bernard Nielsen excels as an athlete". He shared quarterback duties with Bob Mayes from Boise and Bill Moore from Nampa. The Broncos were undefeated those two years. Bernie, was honored this year to attend a home game with his brother Glen, who had not missed a Bronco home game since 1950, and his son Rex who arranged for his father and uncle to sit in the sky box at the Bronco-San Jose State home game. Bernie and his friends Leo and Bev Compton had Bronco season tickets for 31 years. During the summers of 1947 - 1950, Bernie was a smokejumper at the McCall Smokejumper base and later went to work as a lineman for Mountain Bell Phone Company, where he met his wife, Laura Hobbs. They married on December 15, 1972. Bernie and Laura traveled extensively after his retirement from the phone company in 1984, often visiting her hometown, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks, England. Back home, Bernie loved to meet with his buddies from the phone company and the smokejumper days for coffee once a month, but it had to be Kuna coffee! Bernard Nielsen is survived by his wife, Laura; seven children; his brother, Glen; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, one of which was born Thursday, and one more great grandchild on the way. He was preceded in death by his sister, Eileen; and three brothers, Ted, Don, and Robert, who was killed in WWII. His family and friends will miss Bernie for so many reasons, not the least of which was his sense of humor. A viewing will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Friday, December 17, 2010 at Cloverdale Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Cloverdale Funeral Home. To share memories with the family please visit Bernie's memorial webpage online at CloverdaleFuneralHome.com.