MOUNT VERNON – John Mann Nielson was born June 30, 1943, in Waterville, Vermont and died surrounded by love on April 28, 2023, at Brookdale Senior Solutions in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He was the oldest son of Rev. John Bechtold Nielson and Marguerite Helene Mann Nielson.
John graduated from Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion in 1965. In 1967, John graduated again from ENC with a Master of Arts in religion degree. He then went on to complete a divinity degree at Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) and graduated cum laude in 1969. Finally, he was also awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 1989 from Eastern Nazarene College, where he also received an Alumni Achievement Award. John received preaching awards from ENC and NTS.
On June 30, 1967, John married the love of his life, Janice Marie Williams, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He loved her faithfully and beautifully. They were married almost 56 years at the time of his death. He is survived by and, despite his many accomplishments, was most proud of his wife and his two children, Rev. Dr. John Williams Nielson (Amy) and Rev. Janelle Marie Nielson Beiler (Joel), and their families. His granddaughters, Bethany (Ben), Kathryn (David) and Jenna, and his grandsons, Jacob (Kayla) and Jaben were blessed to know him as Pop-Pop and to be loved by him so well.
John is also survived by his siblings, Rev. Dr. Merritt Joseph Nielson (Linda), Mrs. Patricia Lynn Nielson "Patty" Parker (Ronald) and Rev. Dr. William "Bill" Brooks Nielson (Susan), and their families.
John was an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and served as a pastor, missionary, educator and an administrator. He pastored churches in Wells River, Vermont; Frankfurt, Germany; Carrollton, Missouri; Warminster, Pennsylvania and Syracuse, New York. He served as a missionary for the Church of the Nazarene in Copenhagen, Denmark; Manila, Philippines and Busingen, Germany.
As an educator, he taught in Nazarene colleges, universities and seminaries in the USA (Eastern Nazarene College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University), Germany, the Philippines, Australia and Samoa. As an administrator, John was the vice president for church and public relations for his alma mater, Eastern Nazarene College. He also served as the director of ministerial development at the international headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, where he supervised the course of study to prepare ministers for licensing and ordination, coordinated PALCON events (Pastors and Leaders Conferences) across the United States, as well as the continuing education program for ministers in the denomination.
In November 1989, John was elected as the third president of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) in Manila, Philippines. He resigned in July 2001, making him the longest-serving president of APNTS. In April 2003, John was declared president emeritus of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary and a special ceremony was held to dedicate the five-story multipurpose Nielson Center for Education and Evangelism in honor of John and Janice.
In 2002, John accepted an invitation to serve as academic dean and lecturer at European Nazarene College in Busingen, Germany, which was founded by his father, John B. Nielson.
In 2004, he was appointed associate professor in religion at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He retired in May 2015 and received the Faculty of the Year Award.
John was a prolific writer and musician with three books, a children's musical and numerous poems and songs published.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 3 p.m. at the Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene, 16001 Glen Rd., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. The service will be proceeded by a time of visitation from 1-3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made in John’s memory supporting the work of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, apnts.edu.ph/giving/.
From the dust he came; to the dust he returns; and from the dust he will rise again. May there be grace and peace to his memory.
The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home of Mount Vernon is honored to serve the family of John Mann Nielson.
