He was born April 26, 1943, in New York, the son of John Tyler and Laretta Marie Schmidtky (Lietzen) Nilsen. He had lived in the Lawrence area most of his life.

Mr. Nilsen was maintenance lead for Amarr Garage Door Co. at the time of his death.

Survivors include three sons, Rick, Yucca Valley, Calif., Keith, Raytown, Mo., and Shaun, Lawrence; two stepsons, Bret Ebey, Mission, and Travis Roney, Boone, Iowa; a brother, John, Leavenworth; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Warren-McElwain Mortuary is handling arrangements.