(Retired) LT. COL. THOMAS BRIAN NIELSEN, 53, of Urbandale (a native of Atlantic), died Wed., Feb. 12th, at his home. A funeral service for THOMAS B. NIELSEN will be held 9-a.m. Wed., Feb. 19th, at the Caldwell-Raddatz Funeral Home in Urbandale.

A visitation for retired Lt. Col. Thomas Nielsen will be held from 5-to 7-p.m. Tue., Feb. 18th, at the funeral home.

Following the funeral service, military honors will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter.

Monetary donations are preferred to support the creation of a scholarship program in memorial of his pursuit of education. PO Box 615, Johnston, IA 50131-0615. Condolences may be left at caldwellraddatz.com.

Lt. Col. THOMAS NIELSEN is survived by:

His stepmother-  (Retired) Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cindy S. Nielsen, of Knoxville.

His brothers –  (Retired) Major Michael R. Nielsen, and Wife Martha, of Leavenworth, KS, & Charles G. Nielsen, of Oakdale.

His son –  2nd LT. Nathaniel T. Nielsen and wife Megan, of West Des Moines.

And his cherished friend – Gina Henry, of Urbandale.