Thomas “Tom” Mason Nielsen, age 70 of Carrollton, Georgia died Monday, December 10, 2018.

Mr. Nielsen was born in Clinton, Iowa on March 16, 1948, the son of the late Earl Nielsen and Betty Mason Nielsen. 

Born and raised in America’s heartland, Tom’s childhood was filled with one adventure after another on the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Beginning with lessons and encouragement by his grandmother, a talented artist herself, he began working with pastels at an early age and was oil painting by the time he was ten. He was largely self studied, devoting much attention to the disciplines and methods of artists he admired past and present. A realist at heart, his paintings reflect his love for marine and landscape paintings by artists from the golden age of traditional painting. Dreams of going to sea led Tom to join the Navy after high school. Following several years of life aboard ships on the high seas and small boats deep in enemy infested jungle rivers, he returned to his home town where he established his first studio aboard a houseboat. He later moved to the Washington, D.C. area where he divided his time between graphic design and painting. Portraits dominated his career at first, but he longed to paint landscapes and seascapes as well, and gradually found a balance between the two disciplines. Marine subjects, whether inland rivers, coastal marshes or thundering surf have become the focus of his recent work. Tom’s works are displayed throughout our country in our nation’s capital—He has painted presidents, senators, congress members, generals, and other military leaders.

A partial list of public and private collections worldwide:
Department of Veterans Affairs, Auburn University, Mississippi State University, University of West Georgia, Morris Museum of Art, United States House of Representatives, The Reagan Library, Dana Corporation, National Guard Headquarters, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Bethesda Naval Hospital, United States Mint, General William C. Westmoreland, Senator Robert Byrd, Senator Robert Dole, Senator Strom Thurmond, Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, G8 Leaders: President George W. Bush, President Jacques Chirac, France Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Germany Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Italy Prime Minister Tony Blair, UK Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Japan President Vladimir Putin, Russia Prime Minister Paul Martin, Canada Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, Ireland.
Survivors include his wife, Jan Nielsen; daughters and sons-in-law, Maria (Josh) Baer of Arlington, Virginia, Erica and Craig Conrad of Herndon, Virginia; sons and daughters-in-law, Jason and Lauren Stevens of Acworth, Georgia, Shane and Sarah Thompson of N. Augusta, South Carolina; grandchildren, Lola Stevens West, Violet Stevens, Season Stevens, Carson Conrad, Bea Baer, Daniel Thompson, Truman Thompson, Jaden Baer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard and Barbara Nielsen of Bloomington, Illinois, Robert and Lois Nielsen of Wake Forest, North Carolina and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Carrollton First United Methodist Church with Rev. Joy Smith Griffin, Rev. Larry Patton and Rev. Ken Stephens officiating. Music will be provided by Jack Barr and Pat Reynolds.

The family will receive friends on Saturday in the Gathering Room of Carrollton First United Methodist Church from 9 a.m. until service time.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Believer’s Sunday School Class and Assortment Book Club.

American Legion Post #143 will provide military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Operation Beautiful Feet, P.O. Box 1005, Carrollton, GA 30112.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com.

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.