Robert Douglas Nielsen

Robert Douglas Nielsen

1935 - 2022

Robert Douglas Nielsen was born July 10, 1935 in Schenectady, New York to Anton Lamont Nielsen and Carrie Evelyn Wilson Nielsen. This remarkable man passed away peacefully on June 12, 2022.

Doug's childhood was spent in Sharon Pennsylvania before his family moved to Salt Lake City. Doug had a brilliant intellect and an accompanying work ethic. He graduated from high school at Granite High in two years and then matriculated at the University of Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and from the University of Michigan with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He once recalled he had so many books needed for an open book test he transported them to class in a suitcase. He started his professional career with Shell Oil in Houston, Texas. He later moved to Kennecott Copper Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah and finished his career working as a civilian at the Tooele Army Depot in Tooele, Utah.

Doug was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a missionary for the Church in the Guatemala Honduras mission. He held numerous church positions throughout his life. The highlight of his church service was as a Counselor in the Bishopric of the Mt. Olympus 2nd Ward. He worked hard to accomplish much good and loved serving the youth. He was a dedicated temple worker.

Douglas Nielsen was married to Karen Cummings on June 29, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple by Marion G. Romney. They celebrated 54 years of marriage together prior to Karen’s passing. They lived in Michigan and Texas during their early marriage and developed fine friendships there. We are comforted that he is reunited with his dear wife just in time for their anniversary. He was a meticulous journal keeper throughout his life. At one point he made daily journal entries for over 25 years in a row. He is the father of three children and grandfather of eleven grandchildren. Caring for his family was his top priority.

He was an avid snow skier and the fiercest man ever to be seen on two water skis. Boating was his favorite family activity at Utah reservoirs with Lake Powell being his number one destination. He was driven to challenge himself physically. As a young man he hiked extensively. He loved Mt. Olympus and he and his buddies would hike the mountain face with ice picks and then ski down on the wooden skies they had toted. Later in life he ran marathons and was often seen huffing and puffing determinedly running up to the top of Millcreek Canyon.

Throughout his life he was an example of providing service to others. His greatest joy in life was in loving and serving and having fun with his family. He could problem solve anything. For instance, if his kids needed costumes for something he figured out how to sew them. He even fashioned himself his own devil costume that became well known in his neighborhood at Halloween.

He survived septic shock in 2014 and the complications that arose from this were difficult to imagine enduring. He handled each challenge with aplomb as he did with life challenges in general and without complaint. He had a wry sense of humor and was able to find humor with his family in a lot of these difficult circumstances. He was regularly humming upbeat tunes that he would make up on the spot and knew how to cheer those around him. He was a gentle soul and never cursed once in his life.

Doug was preceded in death by his mother, father, brother Peter (Relda) and wife Karen. Survived by his children: Robert Brent (Heather), Nanette, and Amie; grandchildren: Dallin, Ryan, Elizabeth, Mary, Jacob Nielsen and Anna, Claire, Allison Hexem and Avery, Courtland, and Paige Bills; siblings: Ellen, Kay (Reed) and Barbara (Ron).

We are so grateful to his fine neighbors who have been such a boon to him and us as a family throughout the years.

A viewing will take place on Monday, June 27, 2022 from 6 to 8 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy and Tuesday, June 28 from 9:30 am to 10:45 am at the Olympus Cove Ward, 4407 South Fortuna Way (3695 East). Funeral services will be held on Tuesday June 28, 2022 at 11 am the Olympus Cove Ward, 4407 South Fortuna Way (3695 East). Interment: Larkin Sunset Gardens.

Flowers or condolences may be sent to Larkin Mortuary. www.larkinmortuary.com

To view the Completed services via Zoom click the "Watch Services" button for following the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/W1TKoekMoMGom0uL4glDS2XKX38C6-bVJMAMq7BXYrlUT41hBBFC-R5Kat01AKRy.8xbcRr14Uqc92MWA?startTime=1656433815000