Ed was born and grew up in Parsons, Kansas, the son of Cleo (Witty) and Lester Frank Nielsen. He graduated from Parsons High School and joined the US Air Force. Ed was stationed in England where he met Kathleen Royle. They were married July 6, 1957. The couple returned to Kansas, in 1958, where they had two children, Debbie and David.
Ed worked in education all his life with an emphasis toward those with special needs. He worked at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, which provided programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He earned a BS in Education from Kansas State College of Pittsburg, in 1962. After graduation Ed started teaching 5th grade in Haysville, Kansas. He also earned a Master’s in Psychology from Emporia State University in 1965. The family moved to El Dorado, Kansas in 1966 where Ed was a School Psychologist for USD 490. In 1967 he took the job of Director of Special Education and served multiple school districts for 28 years.
Ed and Kathy were members of Trinity United Methodist Church in El Dorado. They returned to England in 1997 to celebrate their 40th Anniversary and renew their wedding vows. Ed enjoyed traveling, camping, and fishing. Over the years Ed and Kathy took their kids and later their grandkids on trips around the US.
After they retired, Ed and Kathy moved to Cedar Park, Texas to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They lived there for 14 years. Ed was a member of Leander United Methodist Church, serving on the Board of Trustees, and volunteered with Hill Country Community Ministries, Meals on Wheels, and Far NW Caregivers.
As Ed and Kathy’s dementia worsened, they moved to Round Rock to live with their son David and son-in-law Scott Poppaw. They lived there for 3 years before moving to Poet’s Walk Memory Care.
Ed was proceeded in death by his wife Kathy.
Ed is survived by daughter Debbie Davis (Ken Davis) of Baytown, Texas, son David Nielsen (Scott Poppaw) of Round Rock, Texas, granddaughter Sandi Calhoun of San Diego, California, granddaughter Amy Oliver (David Oliver) of Thornton, Colorado, grandson Christopher Calhoun of Pflugerville, Texas, and great granddaughter Evelyn Oliver of Thornton, Colorado.
Ed was laid to rest next to his wife and his mother in Parsons, Kansas at Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
In memory of Ed, the family suggest gifts to Alzheimer’s Texas www.txalz.org or AGE of Central Texas ageofcentraltx.org
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