Jerry Nielson

Jerry Lewis Nielson, 72, passed away peacefully at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. He was born July 4, 1936, in Rockville, Neb., and a resident of Gonzales. Survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Barbara Lee Nielson; and sons, Jeff Nielson and his wife, Maryanne, of Grapevine, Texas, and Scott Nielson and his wife, Anne, of Prairieville. Also survived by six grandchildren, Alyssa, Cara and Samantha Nielson, all of Grapevine, and Kylie, Kasey and Christian Nielson, all of Prairieville. He moved to Seattle with his parents in 1940. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in interior design from the University of Washington. He achieved the rank of captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1962, he began his teaching career at the University of Oregon. In 1967, he moved to LSU where he taught interior design. In 1968, he left LSU for Purdue University, where he taught until his return to LSU in 1973. There he served as department chairman and later as dean of the College of Design until 1986. He then moved to the University of Florida where he served as the chairman of the Department of Interior Design until his retirement as professor emeritus in the spring of 2001. During his career he was active in many professional organizations, achieving the level of Fellow in the Interior Design Educators Council. A memorial visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, on Friday, April 17, from 1 p.m. until a memorial service at 2 p.m. Interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. The family would like to thank the MICU doctors and staff at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jerry L. Nielson Endowed Scholarship Fund, co The University of Florida Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 14425, Gainesville, FL 32605.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Friday, April 17, 2009
1pm

Service

Memorial Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Friday, April 17, 2009
2pm

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816

Memorial Contributions

Jerry L. Nielson Endowed Scholarship Fund
PO Box 14425
Gainesville, FL  32605