Haley Kathryn Nienow

Haley Kathryn Nienow, nee Johnson, went to the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on April 26, 2024, in Bethlehem, Tauranga, New Zealand, after a three-year battle with cancer.

Born on April 15, 1986, in Brooklyn Park, MN to Jeff and Kathryn Johnson, Haley was the third piece of the Johnson Girl trio. Haley attended Calvin Christian School, Edina, MN for her elementary years where she participated in musicals and the band. She attended Armstrong High School, Robbinsdale, MN where she was a dedicated student and softball player. She graduated high school with honors in spring of 2004, and started the nursing program at Winona State that fall. She graduated from Winona State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

In 2008, she began her career in nursing at Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, MN. Haley quickly showed her gift in health care and became a charge nurse by age 23. In August 2010 she married Anthony Nienow in Stewartville, MN, and that fall began furthering her education. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nurse Education from Winona State in 2014. She walked the stage for her diploma 8 months pregnant with her first daughter, Lauren Eileen.

In September of 2014, Haley and Tony embarked on a journey of a lifetime. With their infant daughter in their arms, the Nienows started their adventure in New Zealand. They immigrated to Omokoroa, where Haley began her job at Waikato District Health Board-Thames Hospital from 2014-2015 as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department. Then in 2015, she joined the staff at Chadwick Healthcare as a Practice Nurse Manager. During this time, they added 2 more children to their family, Rhys Jeffry and then Millie Joy. Haley continued and advanced her career in nursing, graduating with a Postgraduate Degree as a Registered Nurse Prescriber from WINTEC University, New Zealand in 2018.

Outside of nursing, Haley spent her time playing intermural softball and rugby. She completed 2 triathlons, one while 8 months pregnant with Rhys! She felt most at home at the ocean side. She was a dedicated wife and mother. She made friends with everyone she met. Her heart for others spanned continents.

Haley will be remembered for her infectious positivity, her quick wit that kept everyone laughing, and her adventurous spirit. Haley could see the humor and joy in every circumstance.

Haley is survived by her beloved husband Anthony Nienow, her children Lauren, Rhys, Millie, and step-son Noah. She is also survived by her parents Jeff and Kathryn Johnson, her siblings Marnie (Jason) Walden, and Abbey (Troy) Parker, in-laws Rose and Loren Nienow, brother-in-law Jeremy (Mary) Nienow and her nieces and nephews MaryCatherine, Lydia, Cameryn, Meredith, Cassius, Victoria, and Calgary. Haley will be remembered fondly by her grandmother Joyce Solie, extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She is preceded in death by her grandmother Dolores Johnson, and grandfathers Donald Johnson and James Solie.

A ceremony to celebrate Haley's life will be held Thursday May 23, 2024 at 3:00pm at Cross of Glory Baptist, 4600 Shady Oak Rd, Hopkins, MN 55343.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the GiveSendGo Celebrate Haley Fund (www.givesendgo.com/celebrate_haley_fund) in her honor.