REV. RICHARD J. NIELSEN, 70, of Fort Wayne, died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, at Parkview Hospital. Born July 2, 1940, in Orange, N.J., he was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church. He was a retired Lutheran pastor and former Lutheran school teacher. "He was a cowboy at heart." Surviving are his wife, Carol E.; daughter, Dawn (Robert) Richmond of Fort Wayne; son, Jeffrey (Pam) Nielsen of St. Louis, Mo.; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Margaret (Dan) Cramsey of Virginia; and brother, John (Marilyn) Nielsen of Wisconsin. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 8811 St. Joe Road, with calling one hour prior. The Rev. Dr. John Stube officiating. Calling also from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road. Private entombment in Concordia Cemetery Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the church.
