Mr. Karl Joseph Nielson

Karl Joseph Nielson was born in 1935 to Elmer C. and Gladys Nielson in Elwood, Utah, the youngest son of 7 children. He attended Ogden City Schools, and was always proud to say he had lived in Ogden most of his life. Karl served in the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Karl referred to anyone who moved here from another state as "foreigners". In 1975 he married one of those "foreigners", Debbie, his wife of 38 years. Karl worked in the rain gutter and siding business for many years and in 1976 started his own rain gutter business and later Rainbow Aluminum Distributors, which grew to 5 locations in Utah and Idaho. Karl and Debbie worked together for 23 years and when the business was sold in 1999 they began their retirement. Karl was well respected in the home improvement business community and many of his business associates, employees, and customers remain life-long friends. His love of bird hunting took him to Idaho, South Dakota and Argentina. He was proud of his dogs and seeing them enjoy the hunt as much as he did. He was like a kid at Christmas preparing for those trips and being with his hunting pals. Although he loved his hometown of Ogden, Karl and Debbie spent time at Star Valley WY and traveled to many places around the globe, including most recently New Zealand and Germany. Karl's tomatoes are sought after among family and friends as he always had a huge garden with plants he started from seed. He enjoyed his regular golf outings and pool competitions with his buddies at the club and was known for his harassment tactics. He is survived by his wife Debbie, daughter Amy of New York, NY, sons Brad of Twin Falls, ID and Tracy of Ogden UT, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren Savannah and Aidan who were the apple of his eye; also, sisters Peggy Barker of Ogden, and Jolene (Charley) Jones of Roy. He was pre-deceased by a daughter, Diane, his parents and brothers and sisters. Funeral Services will be held Saturday June 15, 2013, 11:00 a.m. at Leavitt's Mortuary, 836 36th Street. A visitation will be held at same location on Friday June 14th from 6-8 p.m. and from 9:45-10:45 prior to services. Interment: Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittsmortuary.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Girl Scouts of Utah, 445 East 4500 South, Ste. 125, Salt Lake City UT 84107, www.gsutah.org. The world will not be the same without his laugh.....