Keith Robert Earl Nielsen

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our father, Keith Robert Earl Nielsen (Bob) on March 21, 2026 at the age of 73. He was born March 26, 1952 to Kai & Hazel Nielsen of Washington, Ontario, the youngest of five and only boy. To hear him tell it, he had a rough life but to hear his two surviving sisters Helen and Mary Lou tell it, he was spoiled. Bob grew up in a two bedroom house with a curtain divider in the children’s bedroom and no indoor plumbing. After leaving high school, he worked at a multitude of jobs including farm work, roofing, short and long haul truck driving and truck driver training, eventually becoming a meat inspector with CFIA until his retirement in 2013. Bob became a single parent to his four daughters during the late 70’s at a time when it was almost unheard of for a father to have full custody of his children.

Bob loved horses, dogs and country life, but most of all he loved Maggie McElligott, his partner and best friend who he met in 1979. Together they raised his 4 daughters Sherry Nielsen (Rick Oliver), Lisa Nielsen, Heidi Nielsen (Darrell Mueller), Stephanie Nielsen (Kevin Richard) and Maggie’s daughters, Angela McElligott and Andrea Filiatrault (David Filiatrault). Bob and Maggie found their little piece of heaven on 4 acres just past Punkeydoodles Corners in 1985 and he then became known as “Punky”. It was here that he spent his recreational time raising calves, riding his horse, cooking many Christmas turkeys, boiling sweet corn over the annual summer bonfire and playing with his 16 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was always happy to lend a hand and his expertise in building structures like horse shelters, garden sheds, fences and gazebos.

Bob lived an adventurous full life that was sadly too short. He was diagnosed in 2021 with a form of Parkinsonism which severely and drastically altered their retirement plans and daily life. He fought hard and did as much travelling as possible until he passed peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital with family by his side.

He will be missed greatly by Maggie, his daughters and their partners, his grandchildren and great grandchildren, his two surviving sisters, Helen Church and Mary Lou Wilson, and his brothers-in-law Norm Church, John Wilson and Jerry Roswell as well as many good friends and relatives.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life on April 4 at 1 p.m. Remarks and a prayer will be shared at 1:30 p.m. followed by refreshments and time to share memories. The location is Morningside Village Centre, 37 West Morningside Circle, New Hamburg.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations can be made to the Parkinson Society or the Down Syndrome Foundation and can be done through the funeral home website at www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca

Visitation