Andrew L. Nielsen

Andrew L. Nielsen, 92, of Monmouth, passed away at 8:25 p.m. on October 9, 2009 at Monmouth Nursing Home. The son of Christ Marius and Anne Marie (Larsen) Nielsen, immigrants from Denmark, he was born on June 13, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois and was of Lutheran faith. He was raised and educated in Chicago and was a career truck driver. Andrew joined the United States Army in February 1941 and served in World War II where he was engaged in Algeria-French Morroccan, Sicilian, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe battles and campaigns. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with numerous decorations and citations from the 67th Armored Regiment. He had a long-time membership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Andrew married Dolores V. (Stritzel) Hughes on December 26, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He was employed with Gambles Skogmo, Inc. in Chicago and transferred with the company to Monmouth in 1951. Surviving him are four children, Mrs. George (Patti) Linze of Sulpher, Okla., Mrs. Larry (Kathleen) Bennett of Monmouth, Mrs. Dan (Deborah) Portuguez of Oceanside, Calif. and Mr. Michael T. Nielsen of Monmouth; and eight grandchildren, Tom Simon of Del City, Okla., Jeffrey Bennett of Tucson, Ariz., Nicole Nielsen of Alpha, Ill., Kirk and MaKenna Portuguez of Oceanside, Calif., and Terri Leary, Justin Olson and Michael J. Nielsen of Monmouth. He has eight great grandchildren, Mikayla, Gracie and Jayden Nielsen Brockett of Alpha, Ill., Thomas Simon of Del City, Okla., and Hilary, Nick and Hannah Leary and Brady Olson of Monmouth, Ill.; and one great, great granddaughter, Madison Simon of Del City, Okla., along with surviving nieces and nephews in the Chicago area. Preceding him in death were his wife, Dolores V. Nielsen, his parents, three brothers and four sisters including the late Mrs. Soren (Caroline) Hoj of Monmouth who, with her husband, operated the Hoj Trucking Company from 1941 to1967 and served Gambles Skogmo, Inc. of Monmouth. Services:Friends may call on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. His family plans to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday. A private family burial service and military honors will be conducted in Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery. A memorial fund is being established for St. Jude's Hospitals and may be left at Turnbull Funeral Home.