Wedel Nilsen

Wedel Daniel Nilsen, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 5, 2013, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 18, 1923, in Escanaba, Mich., to Gabriel and Inga Nilsen. Nilsen served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After leaving the Navy, he attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree and then from Columbia University in New York with a master's degree.

Wedel and Dorothy spent most of their married life in education. Wedel became a staff writer and illustrator for Follett Publishing Company in Chicago. He wrote and illustrated books for elementary students. The Nilsens moved to Cape Girardeau in 1985 and to Saxony Village in 1994. Wedel was known locally as an artist, but he considered himself an illustrator.

He is survived by three sisters-in-law, Jean Nicolaides of Cape Girardeau, Joyce Wallace of Sarasota, Fla., and Ruth Nilsen of Marietta, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Dorothy in 2002; four brothers, Rolf, Garad, Thor and Warren; and sisters Valborg, Hilder and Grace.

There will be no services.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1900 Cape La Croix Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 50 Crestwood Executive Center, St. Louis, MO 63126.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.