Loretta Jetta Neilsen (Kirby)

SIOUX CITY -- Loretta J. Neilsen, 102, of Sioux City died Saturday, July 16, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Dan Guenther officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Loretta was born Dec. 21, 1908, in Sioux City. She was baptized by the first pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, the Rev. J. L. Kerby, on Jan. 19, 1909. She was the daughter of George "Vince" and Nellie (Benton) Kirby. She attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and graduated from St. Joseph's Commercial School. She worked at the Sioux City Battery and was a nurse's aid in the OB Nursery of St. Joseph's Hospital for 14 years.

She married Vernon Neilsen on May 16, 1934, in Sioux City. "Verne" passed away on Jan. 25, 1970.

They were charter members of Morningside Country Club and enjoyed many years of golf and card playing. Loretta also enjoyed volunteer work, crocheting and knitting to make mittens, slippers, and afghans for grandchildren and great-grandchildren while watching her favorite sports team, the Chicago Cubs. She spent many years as a member of the parish Altar Society and of the Carmel Guild.

Survivors included four sons and their wives, Vernon Vincent and Clare Neilsen, Laurence Joseph and Georgia Neilsen, all of Sioux City, Robert Michael and Carol Neilsen of Dow City, Iowa, and Richard Francis Neilsen of Tucson, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

Preceding Loretta in death were her parents; her husband; her three sisters, Mildred Lilly, Mary and Frances Kirby; and a great-grandson, Timothy Martens.

Pallbearers are her grandsons, Dan, Gary, Jerry, Jim, Larry, Rich Neilsen and Terry Ueding. Honorary pallbearers are Stanley, Patrick, Richard and Timothy Boyle.