Martin Christian Nielsen, Jr.

Martin Christian Nielsen, Jr.

December 11, 1938- April 21, 2025

Marty Nielsen was born December 11, 1938, in Omaha, NE to Martin C. Nielsen Sr. And Alice E. Larsen. He spent his early years growing up on the family farm near Irvington. As it was WWII, he remembered the many plane squadrons that flew over and developed a great respect for the military and his Uncle Ed, who flew bombers in Europe.
When his parents moved to Red Oak, IA to manage the country club, Marty was introduced to the game of golf, which became a lifelong activity and passion. He spent his high school years at Benson High, participating in gymnastics and ROTC, and helping his sister, Dolores and brother in-law, Willis Armbrust, with their dairy operation. He attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln with an Agriculture major and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity.
A young lady named Karen Kay Clark came along and they were married in 1960 in Omaha and Marty started working in delivery for the Roberts Dairy Company. The US Army came calling in 1962 and Marty and Kay found themselves in Arkansas. He always remembered nearly being sent to Cuba during the missile crisis and he also fortunately missed Vietnam. He was discharged in May 1964 and he and Kay moved to North Platte, NE, where he was the golf professional at North Platte Country Club. Marty was active in the Platte Valley Masonic Lodge #32 where he was Past Master, and with Tehama Shriners and other civic groups. He also enjoyed participating in activities surrounding Nebraskaland Days.
Twins, Craig and Christopher arrived in 1965, followed by Angela (Kaliban) in 1967. While in North Platte, Marty engaged in farming with his in-laws. He was also able to spend many weekends goose hunting along the Platte River. Especially when the children were young, the family traveled to their cabin at Lake McConaughy for fishing and boating. They were busy with their children’s activities, Lodge (Marty spent a year as a Worthy Patron for the Eastern Star) and choir at First Lutheran Church. He worked a few years as a life insurance agent and began working for the Union Pacific Railroad. Following the dissolution of his marriage to Kay, he had a small farm outside North Platte, where he raised hogs.
The neighbor down the hill introduced Marty to Diana Halloran, who worked with the neighbor’s wife at the Social Security office. There were evenings out and ski trips to Colorado. Marty liked that Diana had group insurance and a nice set of pots and pans – Marty got the cooking bug from his mother, affectionately known as Nanny. Diana could see that things were never going to be dull, so they were married August 15, 1987. They moved to Omaha to be closer to his family and to seek their fortune. Diana continued to work at Social Security and Marty primarily worked in fence sales. He was able to play golf, go duck hunting, and salmon fishing in Lake Michigan with his nephew Scott Armbrust (and the gang), and maintained his activities with the Tangier Shrine and MoRi.
Following retirement, Marty enjoyed traveling, visiting both Angie and her husband Tim, and Craig, and talking with his grandsons Andrew Nielsen and Ryan Kaliban. It was a special treat in 2014 when he and Diana got to attend the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, GA. He kept busy maintaining his garden and visiting with the neighbors – especially his special toddler friend Beckett, across the street. He continued to enjoy cooking – especially grilling.
Marty always valued all his friendships and socializing with a large group of friends and acquaintances. He could tell you how to fix nearly everything and when farming, he always had a pair of pliers in his jeans. He even took Diana with him one cold January night to pull a calf for a neighbor in North Platte. All the above activities have many stories to go with them.
To sum it up, he often used to say to Diana, “Well, I haven’t done that much!” Most of all, he loved his wife, his children, and his grandsons, and was always proud of all their achievements.

Survived by wife, Diana; son, Craig Nielsen; daughter, Angela K. Kaliban (Tim); grandsons, Andrew Nielsen (Aby) and Ryan Kaliban.

Preceded in death by son, Christopher Nielsen; sisters, Dolores Armburst and Lorraine Barton.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later

INTERMENT and GRAVESIDE SERVICE with MILITARY HONORS: Friday, April 25, 2025, 9:00AM at Omaha National Cemetery, 14250 Schram Road, Omaha.

VISITATION and TIME OF REMEMBRANCE:  Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 2:00-4:00PM with family remembrance time at 3:30PM at West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha.

To view a live Broadcast of the service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click on the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page

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