Larry Ward Nielsen
October 4th 1939 -December 14th 2016
Larry Nielsen will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, faith, and gentle nature. A big fellow who could easily have intimidated, instead he admonished his children, and guided others in his life, with the phrase he seemed to live his life by, “It’s nice to be nice.” Patient and forgiving, his gracious nature was as infectious as it was admirable.
Larry was born in Albany, California on October 4th 1939 to Albert and Agnes Nielsen. He was raised in Berkeley and San Leandro, CA. He served 2 years’ active duty in the US Army as a medic, followed by three years as a reservist. In 1959 he married Susan Jane Johnston of Oakland, CA. In 1969 they moved their young family to Washington, settling in Roy for most of their lives. Larry and Susan would be together for 46 years, raising four children and welcoming 6 grandchildren, until her death in 2006.
In 2008 he married his second wife, Linda Reeder of Roy. They enjoyed travel, gardening, raising birds and horses. Though a second marriage for both, they found a deep connection and love, and Larry opened his arms to Linda’s children and grandchildren. Larry’s children would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Linda for the joy she brought into his last years, and for the unequaled care she provided him.
Starting from his youth near San Francisco bay, he developed a lifelong love of water and boating. From runabouts and waterskiing, skippering his employer’s 55’ yacht, to his sailboat Viking Sun, there was nearly always a boat in his life, and endless memories created.
His family knew him as an amazing artist and craftsman. It seemed he could build just about anything without design or plans, create stained glass lamps and windows, build his own boats, and put oils to canvas to create beautiful art for an audience no larger than his family and friends
In 1984 he purchased Young’s Glass Company of Yelm, and renamed it Yelm Glass Company. He felt in this a connection to his parents, who for many years ran a window and door company in San Leandro, CA. For over twenty years he worked tirelessly at building his business, trying to always treat his employees, customers, and suppliers with dignity and respect. When he retired from day-to-day operations in 2008, his children running the business expected him to keep showing up for work part time, but retirement proved too appealing, and his visits were exclusively social in nature.
Larry was a man of deep and abiding faith. A lifelong Lutheran, he instilled his values in his children just as he lived his life trying to achieve piety to his highest capability.
Larry was preceded in death by his first wife Susan Nielsen, his sisters Velma Nielsen and Corrine Nielsen, and brothers Dean Nielsen and Rich Nielsen. He is survived by his wife Linda Nielsen, brother Paul (Paula) Nielsen, children Jennifer (Michael) Sabrowsky, Amy Nielsen, Sarah (Andy) Etue, and Daniel (Jeannie) Nielsen, and grandchildren Joshua (Alexandra), Emily, Julia, Audrey, Amelia, and Henry. He also leaves behind step children Rich and Mary Reeder, Tab and Robynne McFadden, and step grandchildren Rachel, Zach, Elijah, and Mackenzie.
Memorial will be held Thursday, December 29th, at 2:00pm in the chapel at Woodlawn Funeral Home 5930 Mullen Road Southeast, Lacey.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, or at www.dav.org