Obituary of George NIELSEN

September 1, 1929 –Vulcan, Alberta

July 11, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with deepest sorrow we announce the passing of our father, George Nielsen of Calgary, AB, passed away on July 11, 2020 at the age of 90 years.

George was raised in Calgary and grew up during the depression. As a child he worked hard to raise money so he could go to the movies or purchase a meal. He left school after grade 5 and had numerous jobs in Calgary including service in the reserve army. In the 40’s, he joined a Barber Shop Quartet. This was the beginning of a passion for singing barbershop music that continued throughout his life. While singing he met Don Irvine who offered him a job at the Black Nugget coal mine in Dodds, Alberta. There he met and then married Rita Wideman in 1951. They were married for 68 years.

Work took George and his growing family to Drumheller (the Star Mine), Estevan, Saskatchewan (Utility Coals) and finally back to Calgary (Manalta Coal, Hashman Construction, Monenco, T. Lamb McManus, and TransAlta Utilities).

In Estevan, he was founding President of the Plainsmen Barbershop Chorus and sang with the United Church choir. In Calgary, he sang with the Central United Church Choir, the Hillhurst United Church Choir, the Westside Singers and the Calgary Barber Shop Chorus.

In Estevan his employer encouraged him to seek a professional designation as an accountant. He was accepted into the Registered Industrial Accountant (RIA) program which he successfully completed in 1976 after many years of dedicated study. The RIA designation was revised and he became a CMA in 1985 and a CPA in 2015. George continued his education by completing several Management Development Certificate programs at the University of Calgary.

Throughout his life, he always made vacations a priority, from Sunday drives and cottage rentals at Carlyle Lake in the early years, to camping vacations in Canada, and in later year’s trips to the US, Mexico, and the Philippines. In his retirement, many summers were spent at Gull Lake golfing and enjoying time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and his dog Ringo.

George is survived by sons, Eric (Kim), Gerald (Maureen), and Glen; daughters, Cheryl (Owen, d.2016) Neiman, and Beverly (Ian) Godfrey; grandchildren, Mark, Bradley, Darcy (Stephanie), Sarah (Greg), Jed, Paul, Noah, Kate (Kyle) and Emily (Mitch); and great-granddaughters, Sophia and Hazel. George is also survived by his sister Gunnild Taylor.

George was predeceased by his wife Rita,  parents, Niels Christian and Erna Tove Nielsen; and their infant son’s, Jens and Frode Sylvest, his sister Karen Luft, and brother John Nielsen.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at St Teresa Place that supported and cared for our father through the past few years.

Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB), on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.  Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on George’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Homeless Foundation, McDougall Centre, 455 – 6 Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2P 4E8 Telephone: (403) 262-2924 or a charity of your choice.

In living memory of George Nielsen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.