Morris Earl Neilson

Morris Earl Neilson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and faithful disciple of the Lord, passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2018 after a long downhill battle with dementia.  Morris was born in Burke, Idaho and was an amazing and brilliant man who wore many hats in life: pilot, student, teacher, manager, and clerk.  He served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Among these were Counselor in multiple bishoprics, High Councilor, High Priest Group Leader, and faithful Home Teacher.  He loved serving as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple during his retirement.  He was a stickler for doing things the right way, especially keeping the commandments and honoring and obeying the law.  He had many things he enjoyed in life including snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and camping.  He was meticulous in all that he did and taught and expected the very best out of his children.  He was a hard worker who enjoyed a good joke; both are attributes he passed on to his children.

Morris served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States mission, serving most of his time in Illinois and Wisconsin.  This is fortuitous as he met his future wife Dorothea Jueschke while serving as the supervising Elder of the Wisconsin district.  After concluding his mission, he came home and immediately enlisted in the Army, as the head of his local draft board was after him and he didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.  He ended up serving in Korea during the Korean War as part of the signal corps.  Following his military service, he was then sealed to Dorothea in the Salt Lake Temple in 1954.

After his military service, he earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and later a Master’s degree from the University of Utah.  Even though he rooted for both schools’ sports programs, he always bled true blue when the two schools played each other.  He had several different tracks in his career, starting out as a Seminary teacher for the LDS Church in Snowflake, AZ then moving to teach at East High in Salt Lake City.  He also was a licensed social worker by the State of Utah, worked as a probation officer, and eventually ended up at the 3^rd District Juvenile Court where he finished his 28-year career with the Court as Chief of Intake Operations.

The family wishes to thank his hospice nurses and the wonderful staff at the Pheasant Run Alzheimer’s Special Care Center as well as the leaders of the LDS branch at the care center, all of whom took good care of Morris during the last several months of his life.

Morris is survived by his angel wife, Dorothea; and his five children, Mark Neilson, Kirk (Norene) Neilson, Jenny (Tracy) Miller, Andrew (Deborah) Neilson, Nelissa (Nathan) Woodard; his 13 grandchildren, 2 step-granddaughters, 1 great-granddaughter, and his sister, Helen Tennant.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at Holbrook Mortuary located at 3251 S 2300 E, Salt Lake City, UT from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the LDS Edgehill Chapel located at 1750 S 1500 E in Salt Lake City at 11 AM.  A viewing will also be held at the Chapel from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM prior to the funeral service.  Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the LDS Church Humanitarian Fund.