Ellsworth Nelsen Obituary

Lieutenant Colonel Ellsworth "Dutch" Nelsen, United States Army (Retired), age 80, a resident of Colorado Springs since 1968, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on September 6, 1925 to Walter and Mabel (Christoffersen) Nelsen. Dutch served in the United States Army from 1946-1971, progressing from Private to Lieutenant Colonel. He was a graduate of the 1949 OCS Class at Fort Riley, Kansas. He served in six combat campaigns in Korea and four in Vietnam (including the TET campaign). He was awarded many medals including the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and "V" Device, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with 6 stars, Distinguished Unit Emblem, ROK Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) Armed Forces Reserve 24-Medal with 10 year Device, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, and the Legion of Merit. Dutch's last military assignment was Chief of Staff at Fort Carson, Colorado. He retired after serving 25 years in the United States Army. Following retirement he operated several businesses alongside his wife, Marga. Dutch is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marga (Ilmstadt); his son, Chris Nelsen of Hendersonville, Tennessee; two daughters, Karin Nelsen of Colorado Springs and Susan Nelsen Condit of Garden City, Kansas; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Dutch was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Kenneth Nelsen. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Association (DAV), the Retired Officers Association, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, member and former President of the 24th Infantry Division Association, the National Rifle Association where he was a certified rifle and pistol instructor, past President of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Model "A" Club, Chairman of the Pikes Peak Veterans Council, founder of the first chapter of the Colorado Korean War Veterans Association, which was later named by the members "The Dutch Nelsen Chapter." A celebration of the life of Dutch Nelsen will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance on Monday, January 2, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow at the Olympian Plaza Reception and Event Center, 975 South Union Blvd. Inurnment will be at the Shrine of Remembrance Veterans Honor Court Columbarium. Memorial contributions may be made in Dutch Nelsen's memory to the Dutch Nelsen Chapter Korean War Veterans Association Memorial Fund c/o Walt Walko, 13616 Paradise Villas Grove, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921.