Ronald William Nielsen

Ronald “Ron” William Nielsen, 86, passed away peacefully Friday, November 11, 2016, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Ron was born December 10, 1929, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Morris and Anne (Nielsen) Nielsen. He graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1947 and began taking classes at the University of Nebraska while working for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (NWB). Ron was drafted into the United States Army in 1951 and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, with the 321st Signal Corps Battalion for two years. He returned to Omaha and resumed work as a telephone installer at NWB and became active in the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union that represented telephone company employees. In 1967, Ron became a CWA International Staff Representative and worked as a labor relations contractor and arbitrator, bargaining contracts for better wages and benefits for employees. This work expanded to include representing teachers and Area Education Agencies, nurses, law enforcement, and librarians. Ron retired from CWA in 1995. On September 20, 1969, Ron married Mary Ann (Carey) Nielsen and the couple relocated to Boston, Massachusetts. Their first child, Robert William, was born in November of 1970. Ron was transferred to Des Moines in October of 1972 and the couple built their life on the northwest side of Des Moines. Their second child, Kathleen Ann, was born in March of 1974. The children attended Johnston Community Schools from kindergarten until they graduated and Ron was an active parent and generous volunteer in his kids’ school community. Ron’s other volunteer activities included serving as a board member and fundraising chair for the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, reader for the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for Blind and Print Handicapped (IRIS), and volunteer at Mercy Hospital. Ron was also an active member of the Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) community, volunteering with Catholic youth in the diocese. In 2005, Ron and Mary Ann were named Johnston’s Distinguished Citizens of the Year. Ron’s retirement years were filled with family get-togethers and the activities of his three grandsons. Ron is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; son, Robert (Michelle); daughter, Kate (Tony); grandsons, Jake, Luke and Alex; and his brother, Harvey Nielsen, of Kennard, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Donna Nielsen. Visitation will be held at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, on Tuesday, November 15, from 4-7PM, with a vigil service at 7PM. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2926 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for Blind and Print Handicapped (IRIS), or Mercy Hospice of Johnston.