Nina Mikkelsen

Nina Mikkelsen passed away on Monday, April 16, 2012, at the Corning Nursing and Rehab in Corning, Iowa.

Celebration of Life Services: Friday, April 20, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Orient. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Nevinville, Iowa. Pastor Cathing Nutting will officiate the service.

Visitation: Will be held on Thursday, April 19th from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Memorials: To the Orient United Methodist Church.

Nina Blanche (Winn) Mikkelsen was born at home in Adams County, one of twelve children to Ed and Carrie (Smith) Winn, on February 12, 1914. She died Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Corning Nursing and Rehab Center in Corning, Iowa at the age of 98.

Nina attended school in Orient and Nevinville and graduated from Creston High School. She worked as a Nanny in New York for a period of time after graduation. On June 11, 1937, Nina was united in marriage to Thomas Mikkelsen, in North Boro, Iowa. To this union five children were born: Carol ,Thomas , Jerry, Rick and Joni. Nina and Tom owned and operated a gas station/cafe in Creston after they married. They later bought a farm south of Nevinville where they raised their family.

Nina was a member of the Orient United Methodist Church. She was a past member of the XYZ Club, a longtime member of the Williamson Auxiliary and a member of the Nevinville Quilting Group. She was an avid gardener, never being able to walk by a weed! She canned and preserved everything from elderberry jelly to pickled beets. She loved all fourteen of her grandchildren and was a role model of hard work for them. She loved the farm and enjoyed riding around the area looking at the crops.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband on September 13, 1982; four brothers: Glen, Warren, Wayne and Lawrence Winn; seven sisters: Audra Cherrington, Edra Harrison, Thelma Smock, Gertrude Snyder, Helen Crossley, Ruth McVey and Mina Faye Winn; two grandsons, Mike Kralik and Scott Mikkelsen.

She is survived by her five children: Carol (Eugene) Kralik of Creston, Thomas (Jeanette) Mikkelsen of Council Bluffs, Jerry (Eilene) Mikkelsen of Creston, Rick (Carol) Mikkelsen of Orient and Joni (Jon) Zellweger of Ogden; grandchildren: Randy (Theresa) Kralik, Jeff (Marcia) Kralik, Patti Kralik, Mark Mikkelsen, Todd (Peggy) Mikkelsen, Dave (Kate) Mikkelsen, Pete (Liz) Mikkelsen, Tina (Ryan) Nourse, Niels Curtis (Stephanie) Mikkelsen, Susan Mikkkelsen (Drew Hardisty), Jacob Zellweger, Jessica (Ryan) Siler, Justin (Heather) Zellweger; great grandchildren: Jordan (Oakel) Kralik, Kilee Kralik, Dustin (Lyndsey) Kralik, Staci (Geoff) Spilinek, Caleb (Charlotte) Kralik, Cole Kralik (Alexandra Sutton), Katlyn Kralik, Britlyn Mikkelsen, Grace Mikkelsen, Lauren Mikkelsen, Matt Mikkelsen, Maggie Mikkelsen, Olivia Mikkelsen, Kelsey Nourse, Korbin Nourse, Kamryn Nourse, Jackson Mikkelsen, Anna Mikkelsen, Thomas Mikkelsen, Gavin Siler, Greta Siler, Isabel Zellweger, Scarlett Zellweger, Samantha Zellweger and Jack Zellweger; great-great grandchildren, Kaiya Kralik, Teegan Kralik, Brayden Spilinik, Keaten Kralik, Kelton Kralik, and Evelyn Kralik; sister-in-law, Alice Spriggs of Creston; many nieces, nephews and friends.