Janet Isabel Nielsen

Born September 30, 1938 in Columbus, Ohio to Marion Herschel and Edith May Ferguson.

Married September 30, 1960 in Cincinnati, Ohio at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church to Howard Nielsen.

Died August 12, 2017.

Janet is survived by her husband Howard, five children and eight grandchildren; Rita (Jerry; Martin, Nicole and Beth) of Hobe Sound, Florida.

Paul (Sherry) of Golden, Colorado.

Kristin (Mark; Joshua and Maia) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jena (Brad: Bekah, Ana and Jacob) of Clermont, Florida

Marci, who lives with her parents at home in Celebration, Florida.

And, her three brothers, Bob Ferguson, Walter Ferguson (Marlene) and Jim Ferguson.

Janet was a graduate of Walnut Grove High School in Cincinnati and Wooster College, Wooster, Ohio before serving as a short-term missionary teaching at the Community Presbyterian School in Tehran, Iran, 1959. Her students included children of the diplomatic corps as well as from the Iranian community. There she met Howard Nielsen who was serving in the US Army teaching drafting to Iranian soldiers.

After supporting her husband through seminary and raising her family, Jan earned her Master’s degree in Special Education and taught communities where her husband served as a pastor including Richmond School District in Michigan and Osceola County Schools here in Florida.

Her passions were teaching and gardening. She was always amazed when plants came to bloom. The fruit of her gardening speaks mightily of her love for God’s beautiful creation.

A Celebration of Janet’s life will be held on August 19, 2017 at 4:00 PM at Salem Lutheran Church; 7900 S Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32819.