CENTRAL CITY — Wayne Vernon Nielsen, 89, of Central City died Sept. 23, 2014, at CHI Health St. Francis, surrounded by his family.

Graveside memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Central City Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 6. Following the graveside services, a wake will be held at the Lincoln Manor in Central City. Solt Funeral Home is in charge of the
arrangements.

Wayne was born June 29, 1925, in Central City to Charles and Dorothy (Lock) Nielsen. He was united in marriage to Margaret “Peggy” Greek and to this union four children were born, Linda, Janet, Chris and Amy.

Wayne is best remembered as the builder and manager of Valley View Country Club, and he and Peggy owned and operated the Lincoln Manor Steak House in Central City. After retiring in his 70s, he focused on his passion for the outdoors and his many other interests.

Wayne served honorably during World War II in the U.S. Navy from 1943 through 1946 as Quartermaster Second. He served in the Asiatic Pacific and the Philippine Liberation, receiving the Victory Medal for his wartime service. Later in life, the governor of Nebraska awarded him an appointment as Admiral in the Nebraska Navy.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children and their spouses, Linda Kuhn of Central City, Janet and Ron Covin of North Augusta, S.C., and Amy and Tom Krueger of Hastings; his grandchildren, Patricia and Mike Schuller, David Sawyers, Michael Schank, Brandy Schank, and Carrie and Andris Didrichsons; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Preceding Wayne in death were his parents; his wife, Peggy, in 1985; his son, Chris, in 1990; three sisters, Ileen Johnson, Virginia Shively and Doris Bodeman; one brother, Bernard Nielsen; and a grandson, Justin Boelts, in 2008.