Dean Nilges

Dean E. Nilges age 81 of Fredericksburg, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2014, at his home after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at Peace United Church of Christ in Fredericksburg with Pastor Burt Williams presiding. Interment will be in Union Mound Cemetery, Sumner. Friends may greet the family 4:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. Tuesday January 14, 2014, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home in Fredericksburg. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Dean E. Nilges was born June 23, 1932 in Adair, Iowa the son of Paul and Frances (Wortman) Nilges. Dean attended DMT School near Rolfe, Iowa and graduated in 1951. From 1953 – 1955, Dean served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He served in the 999th Armored Field Battalion and made the rank of Sergeant while in Korea. Dean returned home from the war and was introduced to Charlene Benson. The couple were married January 19, 1958, at the Ottosen Presbyterian Church in Ottosen, Iowa. To this union two children were born; Paul in 1959 and Larry in 1962. Dean started farming with his twin brother Dale in Britt, Iowa. Together they moved their farming partnership to Sumner in 1959. Dean started his own farming operation in 1972, and retired from farming in the early 1990’s. Dean had a passion for restoring Minneapolis Moline tractors and equipment. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, camping and traveling south with Charlene for 23 years. He was very active in the community and was a part of many organizations including; Thomas E. Woods American Legion in Sumner, IA, lifetime member of the Tripoli VFW, member of the Peace United Church of Christ in Fredericksburg and served many years on the Bremer County Soybean Association. Left to cherish Dean’s memory are his wife, Charlene Nilges of Fredericksburg; two sons, Paul (Linda) Nilges of Tripoli, IA, Larry (Karman) Nilges of Sumner, IA; grandchildren, Tiffany (Mitch) Coffin, Cody Nilges and Kelsey Nilges; sister, Darlene (Donald) Hansmeier of Corwith, IA. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Peggy in 1932, twin brother, Dale in 2011.