Frederick Thomas Nissen, 90, went to be with Christ on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, after living a life in faith.

He was a loving and gentle man to all who knew him. He grew up in the region around Clinton, Iowa, until he graduated from high school as World War II began. After serving his country in World War II as a navigator in the Air Corp, he went to the University of Wisconsin where he met his wife, Mary Ruth, at the Lutheran Student Center. They lived in Iowa for most of their life together, where Fred worked as a banker in Gooselake and Palo, and then as a math teacher, primarily at Roosevelt Junior High in Cedar Rapids. Then moved to Mountain Home, Ark., in retirement where he enjoyed serving God through his church, being with his family, doing his woodworking and Audubon activities; especially bird counts.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Mary; and three children, Mark Nissen and wife Kate Magrath, Catherine Lowery and husband Burrell and Deborah Nissen.

He is also survived by five grandchildren, two great-grandsons, two nieces, five nephews and many cousins.

Interment of his ashes will be at a later date in Mountain Home, Ark.

In lieu of flowers, donations of remembrance may be made to ELCA foundation in his memory for any of the ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, www.elca.org.

Emerson Funeral Home, Jonesboro, Ark. is handling arrangements; www.emersonfuneral.com/

Published in The Gazette Nov. 20, 2012.