Obituary of Barbara J. Nielsen

Barbara J. Nielsen, 76, of Iowa City, died Tuesday, August 9, 2011, at Briarwood Care Center in Iowa City. A memorial service will be held 5 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s name to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to her family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. Barbara J. Knaack was born July 11, 1935; daughter of Marcella (Martens) and Edward Knaack, in Manning, Iowa. She Graduated from Manning High school in 1953 and went onto attend the Iowa State Teachers College and Parson College. She married Roger Nielsen in May of 1957, prior to graduating from Parson’s in 1961. She taught for 36 years, 28 of which were spent teaching second grade. She taught for 30 years in Denison, Iowa, where she and Roger lived for 39 years. She also taught briefly in Glidden, Carroll and Fairfield. She retired from Denison in 1997, and in 2004 they moved to Iowa City, where they’ve lived since. Her family includes her husband, Roger; sons, Jeffrey Nielsen (Ruth) of Iowa City and Scott Nielsen (Kelly) of Hiawatha; grandchildren, Brooke and Morgan Nielsen and Megan and Shane Nielsen; brothers, Jerry Knaack (Toshiko) of California and Phillip Knaack (Brenda) of Michigan; sisters-in-law, Bev Smith of East Moline, IL. and Millie Nielsen of California; nieces and nephews, Kim Ford, Chris Mitchell, Jennifer Moore, Mark Nielsen, Paul and Eddie Knaack, Nina and Robyn Knaack; cousins, Gene Martens (Laura), Marsha and Bion Pierson as well as numerous great-nieces and nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, numerous aunts and uncles and brothers-in-law, Larry Nielsen and Gary Smith.