Obituary of Rodney R. Nielsen

Obituary of Rodney Richard Nielsen

Rodney Nielsen, age 89, died on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, NY. He was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on May 8, 1936, Mother’s Day, son of Conrad Christian Nielsen and Rowena Thompson Nielsen, both of whom predeceased him.

Graduating from the University of Missouri with a major in General Forestry, he also started working at the Adirondack Bat Company in Dolgeville, NY. As part of the Forestry Club, he helped break the record for the number of Christmas trees sold at the university.

He served in the US Army as an active reservist from 1957 to 1963 in Company C, 5^th Battalion, 2nd Training Regiment at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

He lived with his family in Northville, New York, since 1961. He spent over 30 years in the Forests of the Adirondacks, employed at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a Senior Forester from 1961 to 1995. His love of forests and woodworking both predated and succeeded his employment.

He was a Master Mason, joining through the Dolgeville Lodge #79 in 1959. He was a member of the Sacandaga Woodworkers Association, and his love of woodworking was evident in everything he made for friends and family. He was a member of the New York State Nut Growers Association, developing a fondness for black walnuts from the trees he cultivated in his backyard.

Rodney was a loving and loved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He married Dorothy Ann Nielsen (Paracka) on August 22, 1959, at the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Little Falls, NY. His wife survives him along with their daughter Annette (Daniel), their son Greg (Kerri), and their son Kurt (Susan). He is also succeeded by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Austin (Ashley) and his son Jack and daughter Lexi, Elias, Joshua (Mikayla) and his daughter Sophie, Kaitlynn, Kyle, Lauryn, Matthew, and Nicholas (Grace).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Nathan Littauer Hospital, the American Heart Association, or the charity of your choice.

The memorial service will be held at 11 AM on March 28^th at Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, 42 North Ann Street, Little Falls, New York.