Funeral service for CW3 (Retired) David W. Nies, 77, New Castle, PA will be at 9:30 am Monday, January 19, 2015 at St. John Lutheran Church, Lawton, OK with Rev. Dr. Bill Schneider, Pastor officiating. CW3 Nies died January 8, 2015 at Jameson Hospital in New Castle, PA. Burial with full military honors will be in the Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. The family will greet friends Sunday afternoon at the funeral home from 2pm until 4pm. David was born March 26, 1937 in Deadwood, SD, the son of Otto and Mildred (Lilyblade) Nies. After his parents divorce in 1942, he was raised by his aunt Louise Nies Schwandt in Laclede, KS. He was active in 4-H, FFA and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. After graduating from Wamego Rural High School in 1955 he attended Kansas State University for 3 ½ years. He married his wife of 56 years, Bonneta Joyce Keim in 1958. In 1955 David joined the Kansas National Guard and worked as a brakeman with the AT&SF railroad. In 1966 he enlisted in the regular Army and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was trained as a Pershing Missile System Guidance and Control Repairman at Redstone Arsenal, AL. He advanced to the rank of E-6 and in 1972 he received an appointment to the grade of Warrant Officer. His military career included three tours in Germany and a terminal assignment at Fort Sill where he served in the Field Artillery Proponency Office where he represented the Field Artillery in the Department of the Army Total Warrant Officer Study Group and initiated the Pershing Home Basing Concept which was approved by the DA. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal-2 Award, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon-3 Award, Meritorious Service Medal and the Expert Rifle (M-16). David retired from active service in November of 1985 with 20 years of service. After his retirement he worked for a civilian contractor, training Pershing II 21G students. He also worked for Civil Service as a Test and Evaluation Officer for the TEXCOM Fire Support Test Directorate at Fort Sill. He retired from Civil Service in February 1997. He was recognized for 30 years of service to the Federal Government. After retirement David served as an Elder and Trustee for St. John Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Pershing Professionals Association, he American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He and his wife were residents of Lawton for 27 years before moving to Pennsylvania in 2011. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons and their wives, Dennis and Cheryl Nies of Menifee, CA, Douglas and Carolyn Nies of Lawton, OK, Jerry and Suzanne Nies of Atlanta, GA, two daughters and their husbands, Pamela and Chett Cross of Kennet Square, PA, Angela and Sean Walters of New Castle, PA, 23 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his aunt. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517,Topeka, KS 66675 (woundedwarriorproject.org) or to wavesproject.org