Washington Man Found Dead In His Home Saturday

Elmer Nielsen, a 67-year-old farmer in the south part of the county near the village of Washington, was found dead in his home last Saturday. He had been in poor health for a number of months. No foul play was evident, according to Sheriff Bert Spanton whose office made an investigation.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Newmeyer discovered Nielsen at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning. They had gone to the Nielsen home to deliver a Christmas present. They immediately notified neighbors who called the Sheriff’s office for a formal investigation.

The time of death was established at about Tuesday evening, December 19th. Neighbors reports that he was always very punctual about his mail and that the Wednesday morning mail was still in his mail box.

Following the Sheriff’s investigation, the body was taken to the Bendorf Funeral Home in Blair. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, December 26th.

Elmer Nielsen was born southwest of Kennard on the farm where he lived his entire life and where he died. He was born November 5, 1904 and was 68 years of age at the time of his death. He was a farmer and was active at the work until his death.

His wife preceded him in death. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Merton Opfer (Theresa) who lives with her family in the nearby village of Washington. There are two grandchildren.

Two sisters live in Omaha. They are Mrs. Ed Larsen (Agneta) and Mrs. Hulda Ludwig. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at the Bendorf Funeral Home in Blair. The Rev. Norman Schroeder, of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington conducted the service. Burial was made in the Prairie View Cemetery near the home of the deceased. Pallbearers were Harry Neumeyer, Darold Ericksen, Willliam Kroeger, Henry Sass, Ray Andersen and George Luenenberg.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~