Obituary - Elman Frederic Nielsen - Class of 1944

Elman Frederic Nielsen
Class of 1944


© Published from May 7 to May 9, 2016

Elman Frederic Nielsen

Elman Frederic Nielsen Elman Frederic Nielsen
Jan. 14, 1926- April 19, 2016
ELMAN FREDERIC NIELSEN January 14, 1926 Ð April 19, 2016

Elman Frederic Nielsen was born in Oakland, California on January 14, 1926, to Amy and Harold Nielsen. He spent a happy childhood in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood of Oakland with his beloved siblings, older brother Harold, and younger sister Marilyn. Elman graduated from Oakland High School, and went on to obtain a degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

Elman escorted classmate Carolee Kuser to his high school Senior Prom, and things went so well that they ended up marrying on September 18, 1949, at Piedmont Community Church. They moved to Donna Maria Way in Orinda in 1951, and lived there for 49 rewarding years, while raising their three daughters: Laurie, Meredith and Amy.

In 1950, Elman began his 34 year career with Kaiser Engineers in Oakland. His co-workers began referring to him by his middle name, and thus Elman came to be known as Fred.

Fred NielsenAt Kaiser, one of Fred's first assignments was unforgettable. Working directly with Henry Kaiser, he was assigned to do the structural engineering for Mr. Kaiser's new home in Lafayette. Fred's other prominent projects with Kaiser included managing the engineering of the Seventh Street Marine Terminal at the Port of Oakland, and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal in Marin County. Over the years, his work took him to many places around the world.

After leaving Kaiser in 1984, Fred established his own structural engineering practice in Sonoma. His clients included wineries and private residences, some of which he worked on with his daughter and son-in-law, architects Amy and Richard Schuh. In 2000, Fred and Carolee moved to the town of Sonoma, greatly reducing the length of his daily commute. Fred finally retired at the age of 82!

Carolee died in 2004, and after several years of single living, Fred married longtime Orinda family friend Roberta (Bobbie) Dodson in 2008. In addition to a wonderful new wife, Fred also gained four more daughters- Kathy Williamson, Kris Dodson, Wendy Pruitt, and Deonna Dodson, plus six granddaughters. Bobbie and Fred traveled the world and took many trips in the United States, including yearly jaunts to Palm Desert with tennis friends. Fred played tennis until his 89th year. They both liked to garden, and Fred designed and built many projects to enhance their large Orinda garden.

In sports, Fred especially liked running. He was a member of the Cal track team, competing in the half mile event. In later years, Fred completed thirteen marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 1982. He also enjoyed road cycling, inviting friends to his annual "Sons and Daughters of Norway" picnic ride, which he organized with daughters Meredith and Laurie.

Throughout his life, Fred was a devoted Christian. He and Carolee were charter members of the Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, where Fred served as an Elder and as a member of the building committee. After the Nielsens moved to Sonoma, they became active members of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. When Fred and Bobbie married, Fred joined her church, Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian, where he was a Deacon and active in Explorers, Companions, Congo Mission Team, and Kids Rock. He and Bobbie participated in six Presbyterian mission trips to rebuild houses that were destroyed by tornadoes in the South and Midwest.

Predeceased by his brother and sister, Fred is also survived by his sister-in-law Elaine Nielsen, sons-in-law Hal Danielsen and Richard Schuh, grandsons Gregory and Michael Kunit and Henrik Schuh, his niece, nephews, and various cousins.

A celebration of Fred's life will be held on Saturday, June 18 at 11:00 am at Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette CA 94549. Donations in his memory may be made to any of the following organizations: Save the Redwoods League, U.C. Berkeley College of Engineering, Vitas Hospice, or the LOPC Foundation.