"George Townsend I only found out a out Matt's passing recently, after reconnecting with an other former Lakenheath classmate. Of course I am still shocked to hear the passing at such a young age of a guy who was always available and helpful to anybody who needed it. It's a reminder to have gratitude and to cherish every day that we have to love those that we experience in our lives. My heart goes out to all his family and friends and especially his children. There is comfort in knowing that there will always be plenty of people and stories around for his children to learn from, so that they realize just how special their dad was, and is."
In loving memory of
Matthew Calvin Nielsen
Matthew Calvin Nielsen, 44, passed away at his Scottsdale, AZ. home on Oct. 30, 2017, surrounded by his adoring family, after an 18-month heroic battle with pancreatic cancer.
Formerly from Naperville and Chicago, Illinois, Matthew was a patent attorney and partner with Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP in Chicago, Illinois. Matthew was born on Sept. 5, 1973 at R.A.F. Lakenheath Hospital in Suffolk, England. He attended elementary, middle, and high school at Lakenheath, before obtaining degrees in 1996 and 1999 from the University of Notre Dame. An avid runner, Matthew completed three Chicago Marathons. He was passionate about and maintained a marine aquarium in his Naperville home. He played on a weekly men's Naperville soccer team, which has been named FC Nielsen United, in his honor. Each year, he helped coach his son's basketball and soccer teams.
Matthew is survived by his parents, Dr. Steven K. Nielsen of Omaha and Rosanne M. Nielsen of Naperville, IL., his wife Carrie, son Ryan and daughter Lauren, aunts Patty Godden and Deb Bichel, uncles Chris Hughes and Dennis Godden, and cousins Greg Bichel, Debra Godden, Teresa Hughes, and Jennifer Davis. Matthew is preceded in death by Barbara and Martin Nielsen, Alma and Daniel Hughes, and Brian Godden.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hansen Mortuaries and Cemetery in Scottsdale, AZ. Matthew's life will be celebrated with a prayer service on Friday evening, Nov. 3rd, from 5-8 PM at Hansen Desert Hills Chapel at 6500 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale. The funeral mass will be held on Nov. 4th at 11 AM at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church at 10755 N. 124th Street in Scottsdale.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Matthew's name to one of the following organizations:
Honor Health, where Matthew received treatment: https://give.honorhealth.com/ Designation: Honor Health Research Institute
TGEN--a non-profit research institute that has done much to advance the fight against pancreatic cancer: https://www.tgenfoundation.org/netcommunity/donate Designation: Pancreatic Cancer
PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK: https://secure.pancan.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1520&1520.donation=form1
Tributes
"I am so sorry for your loss I graduated with Matt Nielsen my name is Melissa Tribble but I go by Melissa Clemons now. I have bone cancer and I've been fighting for 7 years I am so sorry I was devastated when I found out he was such a great kid in High School. My heart goes out to you."
"Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write your memories about Matthew. I have read and reread them several times. Please know that your words have warmed my heart immensely. It is comforting to know his spirit lives on in so many minds. We would like as many ?Matthew Experiences ? as possible, to share with his children. If you have pictures or would like to write anything else, please send to me: Rosanne Nielsen 791 E. Gartner Rd. Naperville, IL. 60540"
"MRS NIELSEN, My husband and I met Matt and Carrie within weeks of his diagnosis at Cancer Treatment Centers. We offered words of encouragement and our prayers to both Matt and Carrie. I pray your faith will sustain you and the assurance you will see Matt again some day. Please give our thoughts of comfort to Carrie."
"Miss Nielsen, I was devastated to learn of Matt?s passing. I don?t know if you remember me, but I went to high school with Matt. I idolized your son and I am so sorry to hear of your loss. May he Rest In Peace and may you find some comfort in knowing Matt will be remembered by far more people than you know. My heart goes out to you and your family."
"Roseanne pls contact me. This is Neil Sheehan, Matt's best friend from Lakenheath. I just found this out, minutes ago.... I'm devastated. 440-915-7164"
"Roseanne, this is Neil Sheehan, Matt's best friend from Lakenheath. I just found out minutes ago about this. I'm devastated. There are no words. I would love to get in touch with you. Pls contact me if you could."
"Matt, I wish we had a chance to reconnect. I am stunned and saddened by this news. I can't think of many memories at Lakenheath without you in the picture somewhere...Football, Soccer, Life... I am sure you are watching over your family while playing a little soccer in heaven. My condolences to all of your family and friends. Take care, God Bless, and I'll see you in the other side."
"Rosanne, I?m so very sorry to hear this news. It just popped up on a Lakenheath reunion page and I?m shocked and saddened. My thoughts are with you, Brooke"
"I am deeply saddened to hear of Matt's passing. We worked together at MGB and he was always so great to be around. Gentle demeanor, brilliant mind, warm smile, and kind soul. My condolences to the family, wishing you all peace."
"I am so very sorry to hear about Matt's passing. I met Matt our junior year at Notre Dame as part of the London Programme and he became a special part of my life. He was such a kind, caring, and compassionate person and made everyone around him feel important. Although we lost touch a few years after graduation, I thought of him fondly over the years and will continue to cherish those memories. My most sincere condolences to Matt's family. He will be sorely missed by all who were blessed to know him. You are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers, now and in the future."
"We just learned of Matt's passing and our hearts are breaking. We met Matt and family at the HonorHealth Clinical Trials Clinic where Phil is also a pancreatic cancer patient. Our deepest condolences to Carrie and family. Kathy and Phil"
"Precious son, yes, I am devastated. As long as I live, I will share my 44+ years of memories and photos with everyone who knew and loved you. I am sustained by the fact that you are no longer in pain. It will be hard to proceed in life without you. You were loved. Mom"
"I?m so sorry to hear of Matt?s passing. I knew Matt at Notre Danme and got to know him much better after graduation living in Chicago. Although we fell out of touch after I moved from Chicago, I have been praying for him and his family. He helped me a great deal when i needed a new friend in my life. I will never forget him. ?Now he belongs to the angels.?"
"Our family was most fortunate to know Matt and blessed to spend time with him in Indiana. He was a classmate of our son, but soon became part of our family. His life was enriched by Carrie, Ryan and Lauren. If prayers alone could beat cancer, Matt would not have had even one day of suffering. He has a legion of friends and anyone who knew him is saddened. Our prayers are with his family and friends."
"We are very sad to hear of the passing of Matthew. Through my conversations with Rosanne and Steve, I knew him as a loving son, husband, and father. He'll be in my prayer."
"I practiced law with Matt at Marshall Gerstein & Borun, and considered him a dear friend and trusted colleague. Matt was loyal, tenacious, intelligent, kind, genuine, funny, and self-effacing. What a great laugh and smile! His passing is a great loss indeed for his family, friends, and his community, but we can be comforted knowing he is now face to face with his Lord and at peace."
"I was lucky to get to know Matt at summer school at Notre Dame in 1994. The people in the Hamptons did not have as much fun as we did in South Bend that summer. Matt was a key reason for that. Fun, Bright, charismatic, Interesting, kind. He was the whole package. I will never forget him."
""God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put his arms around you, and whispered, "Come to Me" This poem says that God breaks our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best. Matt was one of the two BEST young men we've ever known. We will always remember him."
"I was in the London Programme with Matt during our junior year fall at Notre Dame. Our group had so much fun together - celebrating Halloween in London pubs, visiting Shakespeare's birthplace and Stonehenge, Thanksgiving dinner, etc. Matt was such a great guy, incredibly well thought of by us all. So sorry to hear of his passing."
"Fr. Scully, Thank you for loving and caring for my son! I?m positive that your prayers in September, when we traveled to Denver for a special treatment, gave us these extra weeks with Matthew. Bless you! Rosanne Nielsen."
"I had the pleasure of knowing Matt for the three years I worked with him at Marshall Gerstein & Borun. He was such a genuine person who cared about what you said and he really listened to you. My heart goes out to your family during this difficult time. I will cherish my memories of working with a great man."
"I loved Matt dearly as a friend and a colleague at Notre Dame. Matt was my assistant rector in Fisher Hall and we celebrated mass nearly every night together for two years. What a beautiful and extraordinary soul we say good bye to... But Olin this Feast of All Saints, Matt is welcomed home by all the other Saints and Angels!!! Celebrating mass this very day at Notre Dame for and with Matt!!!"