Matthew Nielson

"Since Matt was a small boy he loved anything military, so he died doing what he loved best. Serving others was of the utmost importance to him and how he wanted to spend his life. He always gave his all, whatever he was doing. Matthew was a beloved son, brother, friend and soldier." "He's already home, And we know we'll be together again someday. Apart, but forever in our hearts. Psalms 11" Everyone is invited to a time of lunch and fellowship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson following the service at the cemetery. Captain Matthew Gunnar Nielson BORN February 1, 1984 Omaha, Nebraska DIED June 29, 2011 Badrah, Iraq AGE 27 Years, 4 Months, 28 Days SERVICE 12:00 Noon, Sunday, July 10, 2011 Greene County Community Center Jefferson, Iowa WORDS OF COMFORT Rev. Stephen Ude Zion Lutheran Church Odgen, Iowa CH (COL, ret.) David Abram Des Moines, Iowa HONORARY BEARERS Nathanael Nielson Jakob Nielson Luke Nielson Heather Nielson Kirsten Nielson Teddi Nielson Emily Nielson CASKET BEARERS Iowa National Guard Funeral Honors Guard MUSICIAN Ken Bose USHERS Dan Benitz Harold Peterson Jim Giese David Pedersen INTERMENT Iowa Veterans Cemetery Van Meter, Iowa www.hastingsfh.com Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson is in charge of services for Captain Matthew Gunnar Nielson 27, of Jefferson. , who died June 29 in Badrah, Iraq. Visitation will be Saturday July 9th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00p.m. at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson. The casket will be moved Sunday July 10 th. to the Community Center in Jefferson at 11:00 a.m. A Celebration of Life Service for Capt. Matthew Nielson will be at 12:00 noon; The Burial will be in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter with full Military Honors at 4:00 p.m. Nielson is survived by his mother and father, Christine and Roger Nielson of Jefferson; brothers Nathanael, Jakob and Luke; and sisters Heather, Kirsten, Teddi and Emily. Memorials in his name may be sent to the Funeral Home. NATIONAL GUARD RELEASE The Department of Defense regrets to announce the death of Capt. Matthew Gunnar Nielson, 27, a Jefferson native serving on active duty in the U.S. Army, who died June 29 in Badrah, Iraq. Nielson was killed during an indirect fire attack by insurgents on Contingency Operating Logistics base Shocker while deployed in Iraq for Operation New Dawn (formerly known as Operation Iraqi Freedom). Also killed in the attack were Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, West Virginia and Spc. Robert G. Tenney, Jr., 29, of Warner Robins, Georgia. All three soldiers were assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army, Fort Hood, Texas. The attack is under investigation. Nielson was born Feb. 1, 1984 in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in Lincoln, Neb., Ogden, Iowa and Jefferson, Iowa, where he was homeschooled. Nielson worked for the Fareway Store in Jefferson during and after school, eventually being promoted to produce manager. He attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 2008, and received a commission into the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant (Armor Branch) through the UNI Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in May 2008. While at UNI, he received the Gen. George C. Marshall Leadership Award and the American Legion Gold Scholastic Award. Nielson was also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Academic Honor Society, UNI Ultimate Frisbee Team and the UNI Alumni Association. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge and Combat Action Badge. Nielson is survived by his mother and father, Christine and Roger Nielson of Jefferson; brothers Nathanael, Jakob and Luke; and sisters Heather, Kirsten, Teddi and Emily. The family of Capt. Matthew Nielson issued the following statement: Since Matt was a small boy he loved anything military, so he died doing what he loved best. Serving others was of the utmost importance to him and how he wanted to spend his life. He always gave his all, whatever he was doing. Matthew was a beloved son, brother, friend an soldier. He's already home, and we know we'll be together again someday. Apart, but forever in our hearts. Psalms 11. Funeral services Nielson A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held on Sunday July 10, 2011 for Army Captain Matthew G. Nielson at the Greene County Community Center, Jefferson, Iowa. An internment ceremony followed at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. Capt. Nielson, 27 of Jefferson died from wounds suffered in an indirect fire attack June 29 while deployed to Iraq for Operation New Dawn. Capt. Nielson was assigned to Headquarter and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment Ft. Hood, Texas. He is the son of, and survived by, Christine and Roger Nielson of Jefferson; brothers Nate, Jakob, and Luke; and sisters Heather, Kirsten, Teddi, and Emily. Matthew was a 2008 graduate of University of Northern Iowa, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History; and received a commission into the U. S. Army as an Armor Officer through the UNI Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in May 2008. While at UNI he received the Gen. George C. Marshall Leadership Award and American Legion Gold Scholastic Award. Nielson was also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma academic Honor Society, UNI Ultimate Frisbee Team, and the UNI Alumni Association. Memorials may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home, Jefferson, Iowa 50129. "