Darold N. “Torchie” Nelson

Darold N. “Torchie” Nelson

December 22, 1928 – April 29, 2025

Darold, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully in Omaha, NE, on April 29, 2025, at the age of 96.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Virginia; parents, Carl N. and Anna E. Nelson; and two sisters who died as infants.

Darold will be greatly missed by his daughter, Amy (Joe) Kowalski; grandsons: Daniel (Ellen) Kowalski, Benjamin (Margot Brody) Kowalski, Thomas Kowalski; great-granddaughter, Annabelle; great-grandsons, Jack and August; extended family and many friends.

As a young boy, Darold loved to be outside, especially fishing with his Dad in Nebraska, Minnesota and Canada. His Dad also taught him carpentry skills that instilled a love of all things wood and tinkering with tools throughout his lifetime.  He could fix anything and loved nothing more than having a project to work on.  If someone needed help, he would be the first to offer and would go out of his way to do whatever was needed.  He lived his life by the Golden Rule…Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  So as to not offend anyone, he would tell “Swedish” jokes instead of “Polish” jokes, since he figured he could make fun of himself.  He loved to make others laugh, a trait he inherited from his father.

Darold did many things early in his life, including roller skating.  Strapping on skates at the tender age of 8, he became a roller dancer as a young teen. He earned his nickname “Torchie” as the youngest and only remaining member of the Torches skating team when all the other members, who were over 18, went off to war after Pearl Harbor.

Darold started work with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (NWB) at age 16, installing residential phone lines.  He met the love of his life, Virginia “Gini” Nielsen at the local drug store where she was a “soda jerk”.  They married in 1947 when he was 18 and she was 21 and were together for 64 years.  He was a proud Dad to daughter Amy, and taught her all about tools, how to fix things, took her fishing, instilled the importance of hard work, and gave her loads of life skills, including using humor whenever possible.

After graduating from UNO with a degree in Engineering and Business Administration, and two years in the USAF, he would return to NWB, advancing through the administrative ranks, accounting department, records management group and was instrumental in converting the telephone company from paper to computerized records.  He was very active in the local chapter of the American Records Management Association (ARMA).  After becoming a Certified Records Manager and 38 years of service, Darold retired as head of the NWB Records Management Department.  After retirement, he provided records management consulting services to other firms for several years.  He never met a piece of paper he didn’t like.

Darold and his family joined Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in 1961, where he continued to attend until his death. He was a member of the Church Council and served as an usher and lector for many years.  He also served on the Board of Springwell Danish Cemetery, where his Father-in-Law had served as caretaker for 15 years.  Darold coordinated many Memorial Day services and advised the Board on landscaping and maintenance issues.

A lifelong learner, Darold became a certified volunteer with the Nebraska Extension Service’s Master Gardener Program at age 84.  He especially enjoyed serving as Weighmaster at the Hope Garden, helping to provide food to the Omaha Food Banks with all his Master Gardener friends.  He was recognized for 10 years of service to the Master Gardener program in 2022.

The last two and a half years, Darold lived at Ovation Heartwood Preserve Assisted Living Facility in Omaha.  As one of their first residents when they opened in 2022, he was well-loved.  He enjoyed joking and telling stories with the staff, who took wonderful care of him.  Many came to visit him in his last days and shared special memories of their time together.  He also received exceptional care from the staff of Suncrest Hospice over the last 6 weeks of his life.

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VISITATION: (no flowers please):  Sunday, May 4, 2025, 4:00 – 6:00 PM at West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE: (flowers ok):   Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM, Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 1031 Sunset Trail, Omaha, NE 68132.

Join us for light refreshments at the church after the service.

Interment with Military Honors at 3:00 PM, Springwell Danish Cemetery, 6326 Hartman Avenue, Omaha.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Darold’s name to: Luther Memorial Lutheran Church www.lmlutheranchurch.org or Nebraska Extension Service, www.friendsofextension.org/donate.  Please add a Note: Hope Garden in Darold’s name.

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com