Alan Hans Nielsen age 87, of Pisgah Forest died peacefully with Martha, his wife of 65 years, at his side after a brief struggle with congestive heart failure on Sunday, August 13, 2017.
Born in 1931 to Paul and Xarissa Nielsen in Dover, New Jersey he attended Oak Tree elementary/middle school and graduated from Metuchen high school in 1947. He received his Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering in 1951 from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. After graduation, Alan entered the United States Air Force and spent two years at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, IL. In 1952 he and Martha, his college sweetheart were married. While stationed in Illinois their son David was born. Alan was honorably discharged in the spring of 1953 and immediately took a job with ITT Avionics in Nutley, NJ. He and Martha settled in Pompton Plains, NJ and their daughter Karen was born the following year. His tenure at ITT lasted until 1989 when he retired as the Director of Electronic Countermeasures. Along the way he earned his Masters Degree at the Newark College of Engineering.
In addition to his business career he was an active member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Lincoln Park, NJ where he sang in the choir and served on the vestry. He enjoyed target shooting at the Cherry Ridge range and was a member of the Ramapo Valley Gun Club. Alan was a ham radio operator and enjoyed contacting people around the world. Astronomy was a great interest of his and he built his own 6 inch reflector telescope. In addition to night-time viewing this telescope was put to good use in another of his main interests, solar eclipses. Alan and Martha travelled to 7 total solar eclipse locations through the years, taking still and video pictures at each one.
Alan and Martha retired to Pisgah Forest in 1989. Thankful for his many blessings, Alan decided it was time to give back. They volunteered at Transylvania Regional Hospital, delivered Meals-on-Wheels, were Rise and Shine tutors and volunteers with the St. Philips Towel Ministry. Alan continued his target shooting with the Asheville Rifle and Pistol Club. He was also an active member of the Transylvania County Amateur Radio Club. Alan was a friend of Bill W for 30 years and treasured the friends he made in this fellowship.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Martha Sawyer Nielsen, son; David Nielsen of Middletown, NY, daughter; Karen Creech and husband Jim of Winchester, VA, sister; Anne Wilson of Stuart, FL, grandchildren; Christopher, Caitlin, Joseph, Amy, Adam, Sarah, Laura, Emma, Elianna, Noah, Hana and Robel, great grandchildren; Sebastian, Jack, Theodore, Deanna, Ian and Eden and nieces; Maegann, Lauren, Dana and Sharon. .

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

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