Stephen Himmelwright Nielsen

1940 - 2022

Scarborough-Stephen Himmelwright Nielsen, 81 of Pumpkin Lane passed away November 9, 2022, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. He was born in Copenhagen Denmark, December 8, 1940, the son of Mogens Nielsen and Dagmar Himmelwright Nielsen. Stephen was born in dark times, but he brought a ray of light and love of family and freedom. Born in Nazi occupied Denmark, the Nielsens would not suffer tyranny and when he was 8 months old, as a young family they fled Nazi Europe through cunning and guts. His parents traveled from Denmark to Portugal and then by ship to America. During this journey, to assure that they were not questioned too aggressively, Dagmer was very colloquial and friendly when questioned as she spoke fluent German with a Bavarian accent. Mogens, who spoke nothing other than Danish and English kept quiet. On the open sea, they risked sinking by German U-boat. Fortune favors the bold and that proved true with the Nielsens. They prospered and settled on Upper Mountain Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey. Stephen attended both public and private schools, graduating from Upper Mountain High in 1959. Stephen volunteered to serve in the United States Army from 1960 to 1964. Upon entry into the service, expecting to serve in the infantry abroad, he performed well on his aptitude tests. The US Government determined he would better serve his country by utilizing his mechanical aptitude. He was trained on how to maintain the Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter, wherein eventually he would go on to train service men on the same, whom served abroad.After his Honorable Discharged in 1964,he attended and graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. He earned a Bachelor's of Science in Thermodynamics and Engineering.In 1967, he married the love of his life Lorraine Majewski.Together they had two children, Elyse his daughter and Chris his son. Stephen only departed from Lorraine, as necessary for work, but remained faithful to his adored wife, married for fifty-five happy years until his departing.After his graduation from Stevens Institute of Technology, he became employed and worked for over 27 years for General Electric where he was a steam turbine engineer. General Electric well profited from Steven's intellect as he was granted no less than two Engineering Patents while working for General Electric. Stephen's career with GE took him from New Jersey, where Elyse was born to Minnesota, where Chris was born, to Kansas, to Pennsylvania to upstate New York where he retired in his beloved Saratoga Springs. He enjoyed the beauty of Saratoga Springs, the Adirondack Mountains and the Hudson River Valley. At the age of 77 he and Lorraine moved to Maine in 2018 to live with their children in their twilight years. All agree that they were blessed to be together as a family once more.First and foremost, always dedicated to his family, Stephen enjoyed steam and electric trains, sailing, tinkering, gardening and was an avid cat lover. He also greatly enjoyed West Highland Terriers.Survivors include his wife Lorraine Nielsen of Scarborough, his son Chris Alexander Nielsen of Scarborough, his daughter Elyse Valerie Nielsen of Scarborough,Arrangements are entrusted to Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home 365 Main St, Saco.Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Animal Welfare Society PO Box 43 West Kennebunk, Maine 04094 https://www.lastingmemories.com/stephen-himmelwright-nielsen