Clair Neilson

POCATELLO-Clair Brower Neilsen passed away peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at the age of 92, surrounded by his family and his sweetheart of nearly 70 years by his side. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many. A Pocatello resident for over sixty years, Clair was born at Burley, Idaho on January 17, 1921, the oldest of six children, to Mervin Lauritz and Velda Elizabeth Neilsen. He spent his childhood and early teen years in Hawkins Basin, where the family had a ranch and farmed in that area. He was inducted into military service in 1942 and served very honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II. While being trained at both Camp Carson and Camp Hale, Colorado, he was attached to the 110 th Mountain Signal Corp of the 10 th Mountain Ski Troop Division and also attended radio school, where he earned his Specialist rating for a high speed radio operator using Morse code. With that training, he was shipped overseas for a special combat mission in Italy, where he earned the Bronze Star for maintaining radio communications between his division headquarters and the infantry regiments for 48 hours without rest, which resulted in saving many American lives. Clair married his sweetheart, Nina June Lish, and their marriage was sealed in the Logan, Utah temple in 1948. They have been lifelong active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his military discharge in 1945, Clair returned to farming , then worked for P.F.E., at Massey-Ferguson, then for Interstate Motor Lines for 21 years until his retirement. He and his wife, June, and their three children enjoyed many camping and fishing trips in southeastern Idaho during those early years. He had a special love for horses and enjoyed time spent outdoors with his family. He participated in his church choir with his beautiful tenor singing voice and entertained family at many reunions with his gift for playing the harmonica. Clair was also an avid bowler, a member of several teams through the years in Pocatello and was still bowling at the age of 89. Clair is survived by his wife, June, and their three children: Douglas Neilsen, West Valley, Utah; Thayle and Linda Smith, American Falls, Idaho; and Bert and Jane Glandon, Boise, Idaho; 8 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff at the Idaho Veterans Center for their special care and attention while he was a resident there the past two years. Funeral services for Clair will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 South Fourth Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho. There will be a visitation from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Restlawn Memorial Gardens with Military Honors being conducted by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard.