Merritt Nielson

Merritt Allen Nielson

Our loving father, grandfather and great grandfather, Merritt Allen Nielson of Kaysville Utah, returned to live with his eternal companion, his two daughters and his Heavenly Father on November 25, 2014. He was 89 years old.

Merritt was born on June 25, 1925 in Leamington Utah, to Wallace and Grace Viola Yates Nielson.  He was the 4 ^th child of 12 children.

On March 2, 1945 Merritt married the love of his life, Wanda Lee Spinder in Salt Lake City Utah.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.  They were married for 59 years before Wanda passed away on June 20 ^th , 2004.  They were the proud parents of 6 children, Merrilee, Susan, Bruce, Jill, Kelly and Jeffrey.  He was an active and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he held many callings. He loved the Gospel and was thankful for the knowledge that he would be reunited with his family again.

Merritt joined the Army during World War II when he was 18 years old.  He worked on maintaining trains in support of the war efforts.  After his honorable discharge, he worked for the Tooele Army Depot Rail Shop on Hill Air Force Base, where he retired after many years.  He then owned his own business selling outside insulation.  He was proud to be a part of lighting the Kaysville star during the Christmas Holidays for several years.

Merritt was an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.  He and Wanda both were awarded the Silver Beaver Award for their devotion to the boys in the Kaysville 9 ^th Ward.  He loved trains, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, genealogy, waterskiing and his family.

Merritt was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Wanda, his daughters Merrilee and Jill and 9 siblings.  He is survived by his daughter Susan (Edward) Willden of Layton Utah, sons Bruce Nielson of Layton Utah, Kelly (Terrie) Nielson of Syracuse Utah and Jeffrey (Teresa) Nielson of Syracuse Utah, 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at Monday, December 1, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville 9 ^th Ward Building, 201 South 600 East Kaysville, Utah.  Friends may visit family Sunday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main, Kaysville and Monday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the ward building. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.