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Show Large Crowd Attends Funeral Services For Israel Heilson Sr. The Washington ward chapel was crowded to capacity Sunday, March 11 at 4 p. m. for the funeral fun-eral services honoring Israel'Neil-son Israel'Neil-son Sr., 96, who died Thursday, March 8, at 8 p. m. at the home of his son, Antone Nenson in Washington. He has been in poor health for several years and critically critic-ally ill the past two months. Counselor James E. Turner Jr. of the Washington ward bishopric was in charge of the services, Bp. Alton Jones presiding. Mrs. Carl Di Furre, granddaughter of Mr. Neilson, played the organ prelude and postlude for the services. serv-ices. There were many floral offerings. Music numbers were "Oh, My Father" by the male quartette with Vernon Worthen, Ray Garner, Gar-ner, Glenn Graff and W. O. N i s s o n, accompanied by Mrs. Lucile Pitchforth; vocal solos, "Beautiful Land," a favorite song of Mr. Neilson, by Mrs. Di Furre, accompanied by Mrs. Mae Pace; "Going Home" by Mrs. W. Pratt Miles of St. George; and "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" by the quartette. Speakers were George F. Whitehead White-head of St. George, lifelong friend of the family; William Tobler of Washington and Miss Tillie Win-sor Win-sor of St. George. All three paid tribute to the remarkable life and accomplishments of Mr. Neilson, of his untiring service in his community com-munity and church, his kindness and generosity. Mr. Whitehead reviewed the history of Washing-( Washing-( Continued on page six) , Neilson Funeral (Continued from first page) ton as the center of the Dixie cotton industry and named many of the stalwarts who lived during the years the cotton factory was operating. Miss Winsor gave an interesting story of Mr. Neilson's life. Prayers were by Antone Prince of St. George and Victor Iverson of Washington. The grave in the Washington City cemetery was dedicated by John Tanner. Born in Denmark Born in Denmark, Aug. 31, 1848, Israel Neilson Sr. was the son of Peter Neilson Sr. and Annie Maria Israelson Neilson. H i s mother died in Denmark when he was-aged three. Three years later in 1854, he and his father and the nurse who had cared for him after his mother's death, embarked embark-ed with a company of L. D. S. converts and after a hazardous three-months voyage, reached America. His father and the nurse were married during the voyage. They came direct to Utah, settling set-tling in Ephriam, where they remained re-mained for seven years. In Oct., 1861, they were with those called to the Dixie cotton mission. They arrived in Washington in December, Dec-ember, where he has since made his home. During these 83 years he has become well known as a country merchant, a progressive farmer and livestock raiser. On Feb. 22, 1884, he married Gorgina Sorenson, also an L. D. S. convert from Denmark, in the St. George Temple. She made her home with the elder Neilsons after reaching Washington, to pay off the cost of her immigration, which they had advanced. They took care of his parents throughout their remaining years, inheriting his home and mercantile business, operating the latter for many years. Mrs. Neilson died July 5, 1944. Surviving are three sons, Irsael Neilson Jr., Vernal Neilson and Antone Neilson, all of Washington; Washing-ton; four daughters, Mrs. Willard Sorenson of St. George; Mrs. W. O. Nisson of Washington; Mrs. Lyle Bigler of Nephi, and Mrs. A. L. Winsor of Ithaca, N. Y.; 27 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. grand-children. Seven grandsons are in military service. |