Merlin J. Nielsen

Merlin J. "Smitty" Nielsen, 85, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo. Smitty was born July 23, 1927, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Jens H. & Katherine (Bonnicksen) Nielsen. He married Caryl Stockdale Brock April 13, 1962 in Cedar Falls. Smitty graduated from Teachers College High School in 1946 and from the University of Denver in 1950, where he received his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree. He served with the U. S. Army 88th Infantry Division in Italy from 1946-1947. Smitty farmed south of Cedar Falls for 40 years, retiring in 1989. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Falls, since 1963, a member of Black Hawk Masonic Lodge #65, was a board member of Cedar Falls and Hudson Co-op, and also Members Mutual Oil Company, Waterloo. He served on ASC Township Committee. Survivors include his wife, Caryl, of Cedar Falls; four children, Charlotte Brock (Nathan Washington) Rady of Cedar Falls, Jeff (Elisabeth) Brock of Cedar Falls, Kimberly (Rick) Miller of Newton, Iowa, and Rev. Eric (Lisa) Nielsen of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, and two sisters-in-law, Fran Nielsen of Cedar Falls and Ida Nielsen of Whitefish, Montana. Smitty was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Andrew Mark Brock; two brothers, Leonard and Roger Nielsen, and one sister, Jean Welch. Services will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 9, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church, with burial in Fairview Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 47:00 pm Friday at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, and one hour before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice or the church. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.