Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends at his home in Atascadero, California on July 13, 2015 at the age of 71. Tom is preceded in death by his wife JoAnne in 2003. He is survived by his daughter Amy of Atascadero, California and his son Keith, his wife Nicole and granddaughter Alyssa of El Dorado Hills, California, and brother Michael Nielsen of Livermore California. Tom was born on January 26, 1944 in Berkeley, California to Dwight and Phyllis Nielsen. Tom had Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Social Work. He married JoAnne his college sweetheart in 1968. After moving to Atascadero, Tom began working for the County of San Luis Obispo as a probation officer. In 1997 he became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the State of California until retiring in 2014. His children remember him as a kind, gentle, generous, and loving father who encouraged them to pursue their goals. A funeral is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Chapel of the Roses Mortuary in Atascadero, California, with a reception to follow. Condolences can be sent to http://www.dignitymemorial.com/chapel-of-the-roses-mortuary/en-us/index.page
