PHILLIP CHARLES NIELSEN

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:31

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PHILLIP CHARLES NIELSEN

    Services for lifelong Sitkan Phillip Charles Nielsen have been scheduled.
A cultural service will be 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi community house, where he will lie in state. His funeral service will be 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Russian Orthodox Church, with Father Michael Boyle officiating. A dinner reception will follow at the ANB Founders Hall. Interment will be 10 a.m. on Aug. 13 at Sitka Memorial Park.
Phillip Charles Nielsen was born September 7, 1956, in Sitka, the fifth child of Albert Nielsen Sr. and Ethel Makinen. He died at his home unexpectedly in Sitka on Aug. 5, 2014, at the age of 57.
Phillip’s Tlingit name was Yeet’aawaat. He was Raven/Coho of the L’uknax.ádi clan from L’ook Hit. His paternal grandparents were Peter and Dora Nielsen and maternal grandparents were Charlie and Annie Joseph.
Phillip graduated from Sitka High School in 1974 at age 17. He went on to attend college in Washington and also took courses at the University of Alaska Southeast working toward his degree. He worked for 20-plus years at Alaska Lumber and Pulp; more than 20 years at the Sitka Tribe of Alaska in the Social Services department; and was currently working at the Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry terminal.
Phil’s favorite things in life were fishing, hunting, subsistence gathering, watching his beloved Seahawks football team, going to garage sales and attending all of Kyla and Joshua’s sports games. He was an avid fan of the Seattle Seahawks and attended many games in Seattle. He was never so thrilled as the day the Seahawks won the Superbowl XLVIII!!
Phil was going to celebrate his birthday soon, and his mom asked him if he wanted to go to Juneau to play bingo for his birthday. Phil wanted to watch football, and teased, holding and weighing his hands, saying, “Hmmm, Seahawks or bingo … bingo or Seahawks?” When Phil was little he could not say bingo and would say, “Mom are going to Ningo?” The nickname “Ningo” stuck with him.
Phil started learning and participating in his Tlingit heritage later in his life. He was faithful and dedicated in learning to be a leader of his beloved L’uknax. ádi clan. He participated in many Koo.eex’ gatherings and was a spokesman for L’ook Hit. He was also a faithful member of the Noow Tlein Dancers and served as a past president, leading several Celebration events in Juneau. Noow Tlein is devastated at the loss of their brother.
Phil’s family and friends will terribly miss this kind, loving, generous and gentle man. He touched a lot of people’s lives – the family said they received many calls and messages from numerous friends and family. Phil’s direct family was close-knit and spent every holiday and birthday together. His death was unexpected, and his family says it is very difficult to let this strong man go who was an anchor in the family.
“Although we will miss Phil terribly, we love and respect him as he is no longer suffering from his health problems.”
His sister Lillian recalls Phil saying, “Do not feel bad for me if anything happens to me as I will be in a better place.”
“He is now with our father who died of cancer when we were very young, and our brother Thomas.”
He is survived by his mother, Ethel Makinen; his siblings, Albert Nielsen Jr., Jeffrey Nielsen, Kenneth Nielsen Sr.; Lillian Nielsen Young; a niece, Kyla Young and nephew, Joshua Young whom he loved very much like his own children and they loved him very much.
Also surviving are his nephews and nieces: KL Nielsen, Nick Nason, William Nielsen, Julie Nielsen Wischer, Melanie Nielsen, Nicole Nielsen and their children whom he loved very much.
Phil also had many friends and their children whom he held close to his heart.
He is survived by and was proud of his godson, Leonty Williams.
He was predeceased by his father Albert Carl Nielsen Sr., his brother Thomas Nielsen, his best friend Dan Moreno, maternal and paternal grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Pallbearers will be Kyle Young, Kenneth Nielsen Jr., Leonty Williams, Henry Johnson, Ray Kitka, Edward Young, Tony Johnson, E.J. Williams, Victor Littlefield and Dan Littlefield.
Honorary pallbearers will be his uncles James John Nielsen Sr., Fredrick Archie Nielsen, Joe Howard, Sr. and Ron James. Also Ed Mercer, Nels Lawson, Reggie Rodriguez, Jim Button and John Young III.
Phil’s mom, Ethel Makinen, may be contacted at 717 Biorka Street Sitka, AK 99835.

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