May 21, 1924 - August 27, 2008
Russ Nielsen was born in Lake Benton, MN and spent his early years dodging mosquitoes and tornadoes on his family's farm. His family later moved to Missoula, MT, where he was working at the Missoulian Publishing Company when World War II broke out. Russ's mom recalled him asking her to juice carrots for months to improve his eyesight so he could join the Marines. He served honorably in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return home, Russ enrolled in the School of Journalism at the University of Montana, Missoula, where he fell in love with fellow journalism major Patricia Keil. Russ and Pat were married in 1950 and spent nearly 58 fun and happy years together. Russ worked as a reporter in Helena, Seattle and Spokane before moving to Reno in 1959 with his young family. He was Nevada Bureau Chief for United Press International for 35 years, covering such nationwide news stories as the D.B. Cooper hijacking, the Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapping, and the Howard Hughes-Melvin Dummar hoax.
After retiring from UPI, Russ worked as Public Affairs Manager for the Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, taught journalism at UNR, and was one of the founding members of Silver Sage Manor, Inc., a non-profit organization that builds affordable, attractive housing for Nevada seniors. Russ was also an active member of the board of the Fairway Villas Homeowners Association in Hidden Valley. Russ was a sports nut and excellent gardener. He loved music and lent his beautiful voice to the church choir for many years. He was a golfer and a licensed pilot who enjoyed flying with Pat to different locations in Northern Nevada and California. Russ always loved spending time with his family, who love him dearly and will miss him always.
Russ was preceded in death by his sisters, Vivian Tornquist of Phoenix and Janet Madigan of Reno. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Karen of Reno, son David of San Carlos, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 3 at 11 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 501 California Ave. A private burial at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley will be held at a later date. Those wishing to remember Russ may donate to the American Lung Association or the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
Russ Nielsen was born in Lake Benton, MN and spent his early years dodging mosquitoes and tornadoes on his family's farm. His family later moved to Missoula, MT, where he was working at the Missoulian Publishing Company when World War II broke out. Russ's mom recalled him asking her to juice carrots for months to improve his eyesight so he could join the Marines. He served honorably in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return home, Russ enrolled in the School of Journalism at the University of Montana, Missoula, where he fell in love with fellow journalism major Patricia Keil. Russ and Pat were married in 1950 and spent nearly 58 fun and happy years together. Russ worked as a reporter in Helena, Seattle and Spokane before moving to Reno in 1959 with his young family. He was Nevada Bureau Chief for United Press International for 35 years, covering such nationwide news stories as the D.B. Cooper hijacking, the Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapping, and the Howard Hughes-Melvin Dummar hoax.
After retiring from UPI, Russ worked as Public Affairs Manager for the Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, taught journalism at UNR, and was one of the founding members of Silver Sage Manor, Inc., a non-profit organization that builds affordable, attractive housing for Nevada seniors. Russ was also an active member of the board of the Fairway Villas Homeowners Association in Hidden Valley. Russ was a sports nut and excellent gardener. He loved music and lent his beautiful voice to the church choir for many years. He was a golfer and a licensed pilot who enjoyed flying with Pat to different locations in Northern Nevada and California. Russ always loved spending time with his family, who love him dearly and will miss him always.
Russ was preceded in death by his sisters, Vivian Tornquist of Phoenix and Janet Madigan of Reno. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Karen of Reno, son David of San Carlos, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 3 at 11 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 501 California Ave. A private burial at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley will be held at a later date. Those wishing to remember Russ may donate to the American Lung Association or the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
May 21, 1924 - August 27, 2008
Russ Nielsen was born in Lake Benton, MN and spent his early years dodging mosquitoes and tornadoes on his family's farm. His family later moved to Missoula, MT, where he was working at the Missoulian Publishing Company when World War II broke out. Russ's mom recalled him asking her to juice carrots for months to improve his eyesight so he could join the Marines. He served honorably in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return home, Russ enrolled in the School of Journalism at the University of Montana, Missoula, where he fell in love with fellow journalism major Patricia Keil. Russ and Pat were married in 1950 and spent nearly 58 fun and happy years together. Russ worked as a reporter in Helena, Seattle and Spokane before moving to Reno in 1959 with his young family. He was Nevada Bureau Chief for United Press International for 35 years, covering such nationwide news stories as the D.B. Cooper hijacking, the Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapping, and the Howard Hughes-Melvin Dummar hoax.
After retiring from UPI, Russ worked as Public Affairs Manager for the Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, taught journalism at UNR, and was one of the founding members of Silver Sage Manor, Inc., a non-profit organization that builds affordable, attractive housing for Nevada seniors. Russ was also an active member of the board of the Fairway Villas Homeowners Association in Hidden Valley. Russ was a sports nut and excellent gardener. He loved music and lent his beautiful voice to the church choir for many years. He was a golfer and a licensed pilot who enjoyed flying with Pat to different locations in Northern Nevada and California. Russ always loved spending time with his family, who love him dearly and will miss him always.
Russ was preceded in death by his sisters, Vivian Tornquist of Phoenix and Janet Madigan of Reno. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Karen of Reno, son David of San Carlos, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 3 at 11 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 501 California Ave. A private burial at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley will be held at a later date. Those wishing to remember Russ may donate to the American Lung Association or the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
Russ Nielsen was born in Lake Benton, MN and spent his early years dodging mosquitoes and tornadoes on his family's farm. His family later moved to Missoula, MT, where he was working at the Missoulian Publishing Company when World War II broke out. Russ's mom recalled him asking her to juice carrots for months to improve his eyesight so he could join the Marines. He served honorably in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return home, Russ enrolled in the School of Journalism at the University of Montana, Missoula, where he fell in love with fellow journalism major Patricia Keil. Russ and Pat were married in 1950 and spent nearly 58 fun and happy years together. Russ worked as a reporter in Helena, Seattle and Spokane before moving to Reno in 1959 with his young family. He was Nevada Bureau Chief for United Press International for 35 years, covering such nationwide news stories as the D.B. Cooper hijacking, the Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapping, and the Howard Hughes-Melvin Dummar hoax.
After retiring from UPI, Russ worked as Public Affairs Manager for the Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, taught journalism at UNR, and was one of the founding members of Silver Sage Manor, Inc., a non-profit organization that builds affordable, attractive housing for Nevada seniors. Russ was also an active member of the board of the Fairway Villas Homeowners Association in Hidden Valley. Russ was a sports nut and excellent gardener. He loved music and lent his beautiful voice to the church choir for many years. He was a golfer and a licensed pilot who enjoyed flying with Pat to different locations in Northern Nevada and California. Russ always loved spending time with his family, who love him dearly and will miss him always.
Russ was preceded in death by his sisters, Vivian Tornquist of Phoenix and Janet Madigan of Reno. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Karen of Reno, son David of San Carlos, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 3 at 11 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 501 California Ave. A private burial at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley will be held at a later date. Those wishing to remember Russ may donate to the American Lung Association or the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
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