LaVera "Vera" Wilhelmina Nielsen, 86 of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Celebration of Life services will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 12 at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW, with burial to follow in Lisbon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 a.m. A time for food and fellowship will be from 11:30 a.m. until service time at The Avacentre at Brosh Chapel. Vera was born October 29, 1927 in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Bert T. and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Augusta (Lerch) Ward. Vera was united in marriage to Donald Lown in 1945, they were later divorced. She married Jim Paul in 1958 until his death in 1964. Vera was then united in marriage to Jim Nielsen in 1972 until his death in 1986. Vera enjoyed playing bingo, collecting salt and pepper shakers, playing circle-a-word puzzles and embroidering. Vera is survived by her children, Jerry (Sandi) Lown Sr. of Marion, Judy (Bob) Hites of Tiffin, Ohio, Steven (Karen) Lown of Swisher, and Susan (Vuong) Nguyen of Williamsburg; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Andy Lown, two great-granddaughters MacKenzie Lown and Sage Scheuerman, two brothers Carly and Leonard Ward, and a special companion Bob Roan. A memorial fund has been established in her name at Wells Fargo Bank. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Mercy Medical Center 7th and 9th floors and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House for their loving care for Vera.