Roger Williams Nielsen

NIELSEN, Mr. Roger Williams
Kalamazoo, MI Born January 18, 1929, passed peacefully from this life to the next on January 27, 2011 with the loving support of his caregivers at Tender Care Portage and Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Roger grew up in Ionia, Michigan. He proudly served his country in the Korean Conflict, graduated from Albion College, and began his career at Dow Chemical. Thereafter, he felt called to the ministry and attended Garrett Theological Seminary in Illinois, serving many years as a United Methodist minister in small, western-Michigan churches. Later in life, he returned to science as an UpJohn employee. He is survived by his sister, Esther Robert VanHammen,; his three children, Karen Dennis Fruge, Stephen Cheryl Nielsen, and Susan Gerald Goodman; eight grandchildren: Kayla Nielsen, Brooks Fruge, Macy Nielsen, Tucker Fruge, Gage Goodman, Remi Fruge, Abbey Goodman, and Mason Goodman; and eight nieces & nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marion Spencer and Viggo J. Nielsen; his brother, Spencer; and his grandson, Steven. Friends may meet the family 2-4 and 6-8pm Monday, February 7th at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Private burial will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Kalamazoo Nature Center, Tender Care Portage, or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. "My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet." Mahatma Gandhi. www.langelands.com . 343-1508.