Eldon Robert Nielsen

Eldon Robert Nielsen, age 97, of Taylorsville, Utah, passed away July 6, 2022, in North Ogden, Utah. He was born September 25, 1924, to Anders Peter Nielsen and May Catten in Magna, Utah. Eldon attended and graduated from Webster Elementary, Cyprus Junior High School, and Cyprus High School. He went to work for Wally Bean Ford in 1940-41. When the hostilities of World War II broke out with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eldon was drafted into the United States Army at the age of 18 at Fort Douglas, Utah on July 9, 1943.

He began his military service at Buckley Field in Denver, CO. He transferred to Lowry Field in Denver where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and trained to troubleshoot B-24 turrets and bomb racks. Eldon continued his training at the Las Vegas Army Airfield Gunnery School in Las Vegas, NV. It is now known as Nellis AFB and is the home of the “Thunderbirds.” Eldon trained in B-17s. He was sent to the Army Airfield at Tonopah, NV to join his flight crew. The crew travelled by train to Hamilton Airfield in San Francisco, CA where they picked up the B-24 they would fly to Europe. Somewhere along the way they named their plane “Thunder Mist.” The crew flew their B-24 to Nebraska and then to Newfoundland and Labrador where they refueled the aircraft. During the night, they completed the journey to the Azores. They traveled to Marrakesh, Morocco and then on to Tunisia. From there they flew to San Giavono Air Base, Cerignola, Italy. They were attached to the 454th Bomb Squadron of the 229th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force.

He and his crew flew thirty-five bombing missions. He recalled several times that the plane was either damaged in battle or a crew member was injured. On one occasion the hydraulic system was shot out and the flight engineer had to manually crank the aircraft’s wheels down. On another occasion the Waste Gunner was injured and had to be hospitalized upon return to base. Eldon was the backup bombardier, and his permanent station was the Nose Turret. He was assigned the Ball Turret but was too tall to fit so he swapped the position with a smaller crew member.

Having the necessary combat credits to return to the United States, Eldon was sent back to Denver, CO where he received his “Ruptured Duck,” a pin indicating a servicemember was finishing their service. Eldon Robert Nielsen, age 97, of Taylorsville, Utah, passed away July 6, 2022, in North Ogden, Utah. He was born September 25, 1924, to Anders Peter Nielsen and May Catten in Magna, Utah. Eldon attended and graduated from Webster Elementary, Cyprus Junior High School, and Cyprus High School. He went to work for Wally Bean Ford in 1940-41. When the hostilities of World War II broke out with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eldon was drafted into the United States Army at the age of 18 at Fort Douglas, Utah on July 9, 1943.

Eldon went back to work for Utah Copper where he worked as a Pipefitter and Diesel Mechanic from 1945 to 1984. Eldon was a Journeyman Plumber and taught courses at the local technical college, Salt Lake Community College. Four generations of Nielsens and Cattens worked for the Kennecott Copper complex through its various iterations.

He and his wife lived in Garfield, Utah just west of Magna located on the Lincoln Highway where he served as a Clerk in the Garfield, Oquirrh Ward Bishopric. They later moved to Hunter, Utah followed by their move to Bennion, UT 1974. During their 40 years of residency in Bennion (now Taylorsville) they enjoyed raising a family, traveling with Ute Salt Shaker Chapter No. 1, Good Sam Club, and have enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors. As a Veteran of WWII, Eldon enjoyed Wednesday morning breakfasts with friends who were also Veterans (aka The ROMEOs – Retired Old Men Eating Out).

His lifelong dream was to own an old car junkyard! He would bring home old cars and allow his sons to dismantle them completely, and they would recycle the metal and he acquired quite a collection of hardware! He owned a 1940 Ford LaSal, Model T, and a Model A. He was also a member of an Antique Car Club.

Eldon and Karen served as Senior Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Guatemala City Central Mission from April 1994 to September 1995.

Eldon was enormously proud of his children. He loved his grandchildren very much and cherished the memories he was able to have with them, whether it was working side-by-side on a project, or riding rides in Disneyland with them. He had numerous talents including art, music, woodworking and more. He was a skilled craftsman and made handmade toys for his grandchildren depicting their interests, such as dinosaurs, BYU football, pets and other (which are still cherished and have been passed down to some great children). He crafted chairs and bookshelves, and each grandson was crafted a set of square-notched miniature lightweight logs used to build small forts and buildings. He was an accomplished artist and completed pieces using various media such as pencil, oils, and colored pencils. Eldon often found himself contributing to impromptu musical sessions when he was with family, especially his siblings, where you would find him on the Piano or playing Accordion and singing. Eldon was also part of a Harmonica Band and performed in Assisted Living Facilities. He was also known for growing large gardens with abundant produce including fruit and nuts.

Dad is survived by his children, Alan (Tamara); Andy (Kristine); David (Becky) and Marylea (Rick); and twenty-one grandchildren; and many great grandchildren and his brother Frank (Valerie). Preceded in death by spouse Karen; sons Daniel, Stewart, and Robert; granddaughter, Emily; and brothers Andrew, Eric, and Norman; and sisters Virgina, Anetha and Marilyn and his parents.

A public viewing in honor of Eldon will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM at Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, UT 84120. Following the public viewing will be a graveside service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Valley View Memorial Park, 4400 W 4100 S, West Valley City, UT.