Phillip D. Nielsen

Phillip “Phil” D. Nielsen, 84, passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at his home in South Sioux City, Nebraska.

Phil was born on September 15, 1941, in Le Mars, Iowa, to Bert and Martha (Juhl) Nielsen. His father migrated to the United States from Denmark, and his mother was the daughter of Danish immigrants. Phil was the youngest son of 6 children; his siblings were: Helen Nielsen Eckstein, Harold, Lillian Toenjes, Arnold, and Edwin.

Phil graduated from Cleghorn Iowa High School (now MMCRU High School). During his high school years, he and 3 other athletes won the 440 Relays held in Des Moines in 1959. Phil later earned his B.S. in Accounting from Morningside College (now Morningside University). During college, Phil worked in Sioux City doing part-time work for Hydraulic Sales and Service on Water Street. After college, he joined the National Guard, trained at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, and served 8 years of monthly duty.

Phil’s first job was for Sheaffer Pen Company in Fort Madison, Iowa, where he was one of their accountants. During this time, he met Wilma Hoffmeister, who worked at a nearby company. The couple were married on March 9, 1969, at LaHarpe Christian Church in LaHarpe, Illinois. From Sheaffer Pen, Phil took a job with Prince Manufacturing back in Sioux City, so he and Wilma moved to South Sioux City, Nebraska. Later, he worked in Finance for Gateway Computers (formerly Gateway 2000) where he eventually retired from in 2005.

Phil enjoyed many sports throughout his life. He played baseball during his first year at Morningside College, and enjoyed football, hockey, and golfing with a foursome at Green Valley for many years. His favorite sport was bowling, which he began playing during his high school years with his father and, sometimes, brother Eddie. Wherever he lived, Phil found the bowling lanes and loved the tournaments. Over the years, he bowled in almost all the Lewis Lanes in the Siouxland area and found the sport very relaxing for him. He cared deeply for the Senior Plaza group he bowled with and loved the “Dr. Phil” nickname. While he never had the elusive “300,” he did have a “200” on occasion, which he even achieved within the last 2 months. The last time he bowled was within 3 days of his passing.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Wilma Nielsen; sisters-in-law, Marsha and Sue Hoffmeister; nieces and nephews, Barry Eckstein, Beth Eckstein, Ted (Connie) Toenjes, Sharon (Keith) Wendte, Stan (Joyce) Toenjes, Jan (Allen) Denner, Reverend Alan (Joyce) Toenjes, Jeff Sylvester, Charlotte Rath, Ken (Nancy) Nielsen, Martha Nielsen, Lisa (Kevin) Welch, Diane Hofer, Martin (Sandy) Nielsen; many grand and great nieces and nephews as well as many cousins in the USA and some in Denmark and Germany. Also surviving are Kurt (Ellen) Hoffmeister, Joy (Bruce) Pankow, Trueman (Wendy) Hoffmeister, Paul (Shelley) Hoffmeister, Kimberly (Mike) Stark, Jessica Melvin, Sarah (Lewis) Cone, Grant (Cyndi) Hoffmeister, and Tyler Hoffmeister.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Martha Nielsen; his parents-in-law, Kurt and Betty Hoffmeister; sisters, Helen Eckstein, and Lillian (Wendell) Toenjes; 3 brothers, Harold (Florence), Edwin, and Arnold (Pearl); sister-in-law, Lois Nielsen; nephew, Burton Eckstein; niece, Carol Toenjes-Sylvester and LeRoy Rath; 3 brothers-in-law, William, Kenneth, and Robert Hoffmeister; and sister-in-law Dolores Jean Hoffmeister who passed on February 23, 2025.

Per his wishes, there are no services planned at this time. In honor of Phil, memorials can be made to a charity of your choice.