Elsa Ann Neilsen

1940 - 2009

Elsa Ann (Payne) Neilsen passed away on the morning of July 7, 2009 at her home in the hills overlooking Ventura. Elsa lived a full and adventurous life and will be greatly missed by the many friends she made along the way.

Born in Riverton, Wyoming on Jan 11, 1940) to Janet S. and Goodman B. Payne, she was the middle of three children, Janet and Jim being her older sister and younger brother. She was educated in the public schools of Riverton and graduated from the prestigious Saint Mary's of the Wasatch high school in Salt Lake City, as had been the tradition in the family. While attending Seattle University in Washington, she met John Diehl of Phoenix, Arizona, a student active in the Reserve Officer Training Corps and the manager of the university's basketball team. Upon graduation, the two were married in the Catholic Church at St. Steven's Mission, Wyoming.

John's military career took the couple to several posts before he was assigned to Ft. Sherman, Republic of Panama, where he served as an instructor at the Army's Jungle Warfare Training Center. A son, Michael, was born to the couple and a daughter, Karen, was on the way when a tragic accident took John's life while he was leading a training mission. Elsa returned to her hometown of Riverton before moving to Tempe, Arizona, where she enrolled in the Master of Arts program in English at Arizona State University while working as an English teacher and raising her two small children by herself. She met a neighbor, William K. Fox, also an ASU student, who was working toward his doctoral degree in zoology. The two married and began a life together in Tempe. Another son, Joel, was added to the family during this time. The young family enjoyed extended trips into the mountains and deserts of Arizona, learning about the plants and animals of the region with William's zoological insight and Elsa's ever-adventurous spirit. Upon the completion of her husband's doctoral studies, Elsa and her family moved to the northern California community of Benicia, where William taught at a nearby junior college.

The move to California opened new horizons to the outdoor activities of the Fox family and they backpacked the Sierra Nevada foothills, dug clams along the coast, and even headed into the backcountry of Elsa's native Wyoming on extended trips. Employment opportunities brought the family to southern California, where they first lived in Ventura and then moved to Ojai. Elsa found a new career working with the fledgling Patagonia Company in Ventura, where she first worked as a customer service representative in the wholesale division. Over the course of several years, her responsibilities grew along with the company where she was ultimately promoted to manager of wholesale customer relations. Elsa and William ended their marriage as Michael and Karen entered into their college careers. Elsa stayed on at the family home in Ojai before moving on to Ventura. She maintained close ties to her friends in Ojai, however, and through them was reintroduced to Barry Neilsen, whose children she knew as schoolmates of her own children.

Elsa and Barry were married in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and another chapter began in both of their lives. Elsa retired from her position with Patagonia and the new couple set up house in Ojai. This was a happy time for them both and they traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the South Pacific Islands, and Barry's favorite, Hawaii. Despite their shared love for the Ojai Valley, Barry and Elsa moved to a new home overlooking Ventura and the vast Pacific. They continued to travel and Elsa maintained her lifelong love affair with books by remaining an active reader and great reviewer of current titles and periodicals for her family and friends. In the summer of 2002, Elsa and Barry hosted a family event at Louis Lake Lodge in the mountains of Wyoming. She recalled the times she as a little girl spent with her parents and siblings at the lake and in the surrounding mountains. Elsa's children will cherish the memory of this time with her forever.

In 2008, Elsa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began a long and difficult program to stem its progression. Always strong of spirit, she battled the disease with good humor and concern for her husband, children, and friends. Hers was a life lived to its fullest, an adventure that brought laughter, insight, and love to those she touched.

Elsa Neilsen is survived by her husband Barry of Ventura, sister Janet Shriner of Durango, Colorado, brother James Payne of Casper, Wyoming, son Michael Fox of Bozeman, Montana, daughter Karen Childers of Port Townsend, Washington, son Joel Fox of Los Angeles, and grandson Joel Schindel of Boulder, Colorado.

A celebration of Elsa's life will be held at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura (5654 Ralston St., Ventura, CA 93003) this Sunday 7/12 from 2:30-5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Pan Can - http://www.pancan.org/ Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (877) 272-6226.