Norman Adolph Niesen

Norman A. Niesen, age 97, died September 12, 2023. He was born in Dott, TX in Falls County on October 18, 1925, the youngest of seven siblings to William and Ella Niesen. He was a member of the United Church of Christ of Cego, TX and attended Ridglea West Baptist Church/Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX for many years. He was a graduate of Chilton High School in Chilton, TX. He married Dorothy Lane on August 29, 1948. They grew up together on farms not far from each other, and she was the love of his life and the only girl he ever dated. They both grew up poor during the Great Depression and picked cotton and performed many other chores on their farms along with their family members to make ends meet. They lived for a time in Hillsboro, TX and then moved to Fort Worth, TX in 1951, where he lived ever since. Dorothy passed away in 2010, and now they will once again be reunited. We praise God and rejoice in that.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the occupation forces in the Philippines and Tokyo, Japan. He was an electronics technician for General Dynamics in Fort Worth for 23 years and retired from Bell Textron in Hurst, TX in 1986. He was quite the handyman and could fix, install, and build just about anything. He often helped his neighbors with things needing to be done around their homes and frequently helped with projects at his church. He and Dorothy loved to travel and traveled all over the United States and a few other countries. They especially enjoyed going on cruises. He also loved fishing, often fishing all night on the Brazos River with family members. He was a kind, generous, loving, soft-spoken, and gentle man. He was loved by all who knew him, and above all else he loved his family.

After Dorothy’s passing, he grew to love the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, dedicating a computer lab to the nursing school and establishing an endowed scholarship there in her memory. He had proposed to Dorothy on the front steps of her dormitory there, and his time spent there after her passing brought him closer to her again. He so enjoyed going to the Crusaders football games there and to other events on campus, and he was eventually made an honorary alumnus at a ceremony on the 50-yard line at one of the football games. He cherished his time spent there and the friendships he made among the staff of the university.

He is survived by his two sons Norman W. Niesen of Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Robert W. Niesen and his wife Davila of Waxahachie, TX; granddaughters Valerie Niesen and Melissa (Matt) Edwards; grandsons Brady and Riley Niesen; great grandsons Hamilton Niesen and Zach and Cameron Edwards; great granddaughter Ava Niesen; and many nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings Freda Koerth, Gertrude Feind, Minnie Braun, Corine Miller, William Niesen, and Marvin Niesen.

A special thanks to his caregivers from Comfort Keepers for the care they provided him during his final years and the nurses and doctors and other staff that cared for him in his final months at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth, Renaissance Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Italy, and Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Waxahachie.

Funeral services will be held at Laurel Land Funeral Home & Cemetery at 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth, TX 76115 on Monday, September 18 at 10:00 AM with visitation preceding it at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Dorothy Lane and Norman Niesen Endowed Scholarship in Education at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 900 College Street, UMHB Box 8433, Belton, TX 76513.