Dennis Nielsen, 60
Dennis Brian Nielsen was born to Rose and Grant Nielsen in Kalispell on April 16, 1959, the sixth of seven children. He loved his parents above all else.
Dennis took off to heaven to see them again on Sept. 16, 2019, leaving us all better people by the example of his life.
Dennis was born with Down syndrome and was a kind and loving soul with a great sense of humor. He had a big smile and loved to laugh and joke around. Family was most important to him, but he also made friends everywhere he went. To walk with him anywhere in Kalispell was to hear a constant chorus of “Hi, Dennis!” People also recognized and greeted him at Logan Pass, in Seattle, and even in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Dennis belonged to St. Matthew’s Church in Kalispell where he had many friends and loved to sing the songs and receive Communion. He liked to sit on the end so he could greet the priest before Mass began.
Dennis graduated from Flathead High School in 1978. He loved school and all his teachers and friends. Classmates would come up to him for the rest of his life to say hi and remind him that they graduated with him.
He worked for many years at Flathead Industries, especially enjoying his time at the Thrift Store. At lunchtime he was a rock star, laughing with his friends and teasing them constantly. Dennis was thrilled when Flathead Industries took him to Disneyland, where he met many old friends, from Mickey Mouse to Buzz Lightyear.
Dennis enjoyed music and movies, especially the Superheroes. He had a huge collection of LPs, cassette tapes, CDs, video tapes and DVDs and over 5,000 comic books. Dennis had a great time playing board games with his family and especially liked it when he beat everybody at Aggravation. He also loved the family pets and never forgot his cat Jack that he had as a child.
Dennis was preceded in death by his beloved parents and younger sister Michele Ostrom.
He is survived by three sisters, Marty (Roger) Brewer, Kathy Nielsen and Rosalie (Paul) Seaman; and two brothers, Ron (Pam) Nielsen and Gerry (Diana) Nielsen. We will all miss him greatly. He is also survived by his aunt Della Nielsen and two uncles, Norm Wendt and Chuck (Meliss) Clark. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins will also remember him, as well as dozens of friends.
A Catholic memorial service for Dennis will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 27 at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. A reception celebrating Dennis’s life will follow at the First Presbyterian Church basement across the street.
Memorial donations for Dennis may be sent to Flathead Industries, 66 4th Ave. WN, Kalispell, MT 59901 or to the charity of your choice.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.