Rev. Thomas C. Nielsen

Rev. Thomas C. Nielsen

It is with grieving hearts that we report the passing of Tom on May 3, 2018 from complications of congestive heart failure and Parkinson's Disease. We are comforted to know that his physical struggles are over.

Tom was born to Lurline and Raymond Nielsen on July 15, 1946 in Mankato, MN. The family moved to Morgantown, WV where his father pastored a church, later moving to Seattle where he served University Baptist Church. Tom attended Roosevelt High School and earned his Sociology degree at the University of Washington, where he met and married Marilee Monson. Tom and Marilee spent 3 years in Newton Centre, MA where he graduated from Andover Newton Theological School. In the 1970s, Tom served as assistant pastor at Des Moines, WA First Baptist Church and as associate pastor of Queen Anne Baptist Church. His next ministry was forming house churches in the Seattle area, after which his focus became religious and youth camping. He served as Executive Director of Camp Burton on Vashon Island for 12 years. Tom loved working with Camp Goodtimes, which serves children with cancer and their siblings, as well as the camp for children with Sickle Cell disease. He provided consulting and teaching to a number of camps and represented the American Camp Association in the West.

Tom was deeply committed to promoting social, racial and economic justice. In his retirement, these areas were the focus of his time and effort. Retirement also allowed more time for hiking in the mountains and indulging his passion for kayaking. In December 2014, Tom and Marilee happily moved to Covenant Shores Retirement Community on Mercer Island where they have made wonderful friends with residents and staff.

Tom is survived by his wife Marilee and children Heather Clayton (Daniel) and Bret Nielsen (Liliya Nesteruk); his brother Stephen Nielsen (Lynne); brother-in-law Charles Monson (Doris); sister-in-law Nancy Bruner (Dan) and a number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The family thanks the Virginia Mason staff which provided such compassionate care to Tom and his family through the years but most especially in his final hours.

A memorial service is planned for

Sunday, June 10th at 2:00pm at Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave.

Donations are suggested to Burton Camp and Conference Center or to Cascade Meadows Baptist Camp, mailing address for both: 409 3rd Avenue South, Suite. A, Kent WA 98032.