Ethel June Nielsen

Ethel June Nielsen was dealt an interesting hand in life and she played her cards well. She was born in Mendon , Missouri on March 19, 1920 to Della (Lamb) and Elijah Swift. After graduating from Mendon High School she moved to Kansas City where she found employment at Hallmark and Sealtest (Franklin Ice Cream). In 1944 she married C. Vincent Nielsen. In their early married years, they were stationed at Naval bases in Jacksonville, FL and Hutchinson, KS. In 1947, after the war, they moved to Shawnee, KS where they raised a family of five children. In addition to raising her family, her passion and skill for sewing was appreciated by her many friends. In her later years, she enjoyed spending time with friends, bowling, playing cards and Bunco (and candy!) She took pleasure in traveling coast to coast to visit her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lived independently until the age of 102. Ethel June died peacefully on December 14, 2022.

Ethel June was preceded in death by her husband in 1993 and her son, Jim in 2015. Survivors include her sister, Margaret Johnson, Norwalk, OH; her children, Nancy Ives, Lafayette, NY, Susie Swanson, Clay Center, KS, Joe Nielsen, York, ME, and Marilyn Caldwell, Santa Barbara, CA.  She had 13 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

After attending St. Joseph's Catholic Church with her family for 65 years, Ethel June was confirmed into the Church in October, 2012.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 30th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Shawnee.  Respect calls will be from 4:00-6:00 on Sunday, January 29th at the Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee.