Glen R. Nielsen

"Dad, your guiding hand will remain with me forever"

This is my dad Glen Richard Nielsen

My dad was born in 1920 and lived in Logan Utah.  He grew up in a poor Danish family but he often told me he never knew they were poor.   Dad would tell me stories of when he grew up.  They were the best to listen too.  And it was always a plus when dad would get laughing as well and tears would roll down his face.  They were stories about the Macey Boys, Ro and Wooly.  Almey Peterson, Charlie Gunder, Glen Shiftman and old man Shiftman.  Declaring war on little Berlin.  His goat that couldn't be contained and walked along the fence top.  Big hats and dark coats just to name a few.   He would often say he had a wonderful childhood.  

Dad grew up a typical boy and eventually met and married my mom.  He was drafted into the war and I remember him saying, if I'm going to go then I want to be on the front lines.   And so he was.  He was a proud Marine.  4th Marine Division to be exact. 

 

Dad was fiercely patriotic!   He taught me to love this country with all my heart.  He never talked much about the war.  We always knew there were painful memories attached so we only heard a few of his stories.  One that was burned in my mind  was when he landed on one of the islands in the Pacific (Marshall Islands- Tinian, Saipan, Iwo Jima) when they got word that the Japanese were hot on their trail and would be arriving in moments.  They were instructed to dig a hole as fast and as deep as they could and hunker down and wait for the fight.  As he told me this story tears rolled down his eyes as he said I prayed let me see my sweet wife again and my son.  We have a written record of his time in the war.  As well as his own words telling those same stories.  To this day it is hard for me to sing our National Anthem and God Bless America.  Because of the lessons I learned from him.

 This is my dad and I dancing at the Gold n Green Ball my senior year of High School. 

 My dad was a master builder.  He built multi-million dollar homes.  He had a following of loyal customers.  They would build and sell and then build and sell again.  My dad was as honest as the day was long.   Below are some of the houses he worked on.  Ray Rossi built this first house on the top of a hill in Palo Alto and then built houses below his.

The house was built around this window

Jim Cranes House.  Dad worked on this one for years.  It was actually burned down by an arsonist but they rebuilt it again. 

Inside Crane's house. 

He was one of 3 Stone Mason for the Oakland Temple.  He has some amazing stories about his experiences building a House of God.  Much of which included great revelations given to him.

The clamp dad made to carry the sculptured panels

 I know there are things I do and understand that come from my father's genes.  I am pretty much mechanically inclined as well.  We could both take things apart and put them back together with ease. 

My dad in his work shop. 

 My dad loved nature and he and Ellis Crosby purchased 2 horses which multiplied into 4.  He would take us riding.  I loved going with him into the Sierra Mountains.  He would sit on hug rocks for hours supposedly hunting.   He loved to fish and camp.  I do too but I do prefer a bed to the ground now a days.

 
 So you see I know I am a lucky daughter.  I grew up with a wonderful father and mother.  I shall always remember when I broke up with my first boyfriend.  I came in crying and my dad said to me, come and sit on my lap.  Here I was teenager crying in my father's arms but it made all the difference in the world.  I was taught and learned at the knee of a gentle man.  Someone who loved his country and his God. Dad would say to me, "Annette I don't know how or when but I do know it will all be okay." How blessed I am and oh how I miss this dear sweet man.