Obituary of Jens Kirkeby NIELSEN

February 24, 1933 – Bryndum, Denmark
December 21, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

Jens K. Nielsen, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 86 years.

He was born and raised on a farm in Bryndum, Denmark and immigrated to Canada at the age of 21 in 1954 to experience farming the Canadian way, west of Innisfail, AB. While managing a ranch west of Priddis, AB, he met Ella and they were married in 1963. The following year the ranch was sold and Jens attended SAIT and obtained his Journeyman Certificate in carpentry and took courses in estimating, blueprint reading and drafting. Jens enjoyed his work in commercial construction and longtime employment with Highfield Builders as a Superintendent in Calgary, AB.

With their young family in tow, Jens was reluctantly convinced to try new adventures in camping, hiking and cross-country skiing, because he thought “farmers don’t camp”. Many family memories were created with camping trips across Western Canada in their 1960’s trailer. Jens enjoyed volunteering with the 1988 Calgary Olympics and 32 years with the Foothills Nordic Ski Club at the Kananaskis Ski Marathon. Jens was an active member of the Southwood United Church, lending a hand when the new church was built and where his carpentry skills were needed.

In the 1970’s Jens and Ella purchased 40 acres West of Sundre, AB, where he loved spending his time riding his old tractor tending to the property. In later years, Jens and Ella explored and discovered many remote places across Canada from Newfoundland to Tuktoyaktuk, NWT to Haida Gwaii, BC, as well as trips to Costa Rica and Europe. In his retirement, Jens enjoyed gardening around the house and was an avid reader, especially fond of Canadian literature and local stories.

Jens was a devoted husband and father who will be remembered for his kind and thoughtful nature, as well as his dependability to all who sought help from him. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 56 years, Ella; his son Harald and grandchildren Hailey and Jasper and daughter Jennifer (Kevin Klassen) along with a large extended family in Denmark.

Funeral Services will be held at Southwood United Church (10690 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB) on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the “Fellowship Hall” at Southwood United Church. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Jens’ obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. The family would like to thank the staff at the Mayfair Care Centre for their warm and loving care.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Jens Nielsen. McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.