Ira J. Nielson

Centerfield, Utah - Ira J. Nielson, age 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Centerfield on August 17, 2013, following a long valiant fight from complications of cancer. He was born June 10, 1929 in Centerfield, a son of Harold C. and Myrtle Jentry Ellen Christensen Nielson. Ira grew up on the Arapeen Ranch, an area in South Sanpete known by the locals as Crowleyville. He had one brother, Jack and one sister, Jentry. At age 17, Ira enlisted in the US Navy and spent two years in China, preceding the Chinese Revolution of 1949. Ira married Vivian Peck, May 3, 1949 in Centerfield. They soon became the proud parents of four children: Connie, Johnny, Blaine and Michael. Ira and Vivian later divorced. Ira married his beloved Frances Faye Taylor Bown, June 17, 1965 in Salt Lake City. They were sealed in the Manti LDS Temple in 2004. Fran brought three children into the marriage - Rob, Kent and Mary. Together, Ira and Fran had one child, Rachel. Ira was very active in the LDS Church, a member of the Axtell 1st Ward and he attended the Temple on a regular basis. Ira spent his whole life on the ranch in Crowleyville. He had a cow-calf operation with mountain permits and later started his own feedlot which at one time, accommodated up to 2500 head of cattle. To make his farm land more productive, Ira designed one of the most efficient sprinkler farms in the valley. In the 1960s, Ira and his brother, Jack, teamed up to start a livestock transportation business known as J & I Trucking. Named King Cowboy in 2003, Ira was also honored by the Utah Cattlemen's Association in 2009. Ira is survived by his beloved wife, Fran, of Centerfield; his children: Connie and James Eldridge of Westminster, California; Blaine and Claudia Nielson of Axtell; Michael Nielson of St. George; Rob and Shari Bown, Mary Maes, all of Richfield; Kent and Kantima Bown of Midvale; Rachel Nielson of Centerfield; 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a son, Johnny Nielson; a brother Jack Nielson and a sister, Jentry Anderson. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. in the Axtell 1st LDS Ward Chapel, where friends may call for viewing Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Thursday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services. Burial with military honors accorded by the Oliver Russell American Legion Post #105 and the Utah Honor Guard will be in the Centerfield Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.