Graveside Services with Military Honors for Donald Edward Neilson, Age 86 of Winnetka, California (Formerly of Alton, Missouri) will be held Friday, February 13th, 2026 in The Huddleston Cemetery, Alton, Missouri, beginning at 1:00 PM.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Clary Funeral Home, Alton, Missouri.
Donald Edward Nielson, age 86 of Winnetka, California, was born December 5, 1939, in Manhattan, Kansas, and departed this life on January 26, 2026.
He attended Manhattan High School, Manhattan, Kansas. One of the first jobs he worked after school hours was at Bonawitz Machine Shop. He joined the Navy in July, 1958, and served 4 years at the rank of IR2 (ES) ending on June 29, 1962. During his time on the USS Frontier out of Long Beach California, which was a repair ship to fix other ships, he learned his trade as a machinist. He was in charge of the shop on his watch. He even slept there. After the Navy, he worked at Maroney company, L A Gauge, Northrop Aviation as well as several other places as a machinist. He had his own shop where he machined some of his guns and tools for shooting. Don was an excellent marksman at Benchrest shooting. The National Benchres Shooting Association lists Don as champion of 1000 yard heavy gun score and 2 gun score in 2002; 600 yard heavy gun group and score and 2 gun group and score in 2007; heavy gun score and 2 gun score in 2009; light gun group and score and as National Champion in 2010. He was inducted into the United States Long Range Benchrest Hall of Fame in 2009 for his outstanding achievements in shooting Long Range Benchrest. He shot internationally as well as national. Shooting matches he went to were in France, Africa, and Australia. He was World Benchrest Champion in Australia in 1995.
He was a confirmed member of First Lutheran Church of Manhattan, Kansas and attended a Lutheran church in Winnetka, California.
He was preceded in death by his wife Connie Rae Tucker Reeves of California; mother Helene Ruth Christenson Nielson of Manhattan, Kansas; father Albert Edward Nielson of Manhattan, Kansas; and nephew Niels Fredric Orr of Alton, Missouri.
He is survived by his stepsons Steven Reeves and Michael Reeves; sister Marilyn Ann Nielson Russell of Manhattan, Kansas; sister Linda Sue Nielson Orr (Vernon) of Alton, Missouri; and sister Susan Ilene Nielson Devoto (Skip) of Wentzville, Missouri; 8 nieces and nephews, other cousins and relatives and friends.
