Robert Arthur Nielsen was born in Muskegon, Michigan around 1928 by his father, Charles Edward Nielsen, and his mother, Selma Alvena Anderson. He later married Virginia Elouise Hudson on July 23, 1949. Virginia Hudson was also born in Muskegon, Michigan around 1930 by her father, Eugene Malcom Hudson, and her mother, Jennie M. Shannock. According to Roberts marriage records, he was 21 when he was married in 1949, putting him in high school over the years of 1942 to 1946, when the diary was dated. Robert and Virginia had five children together. Later on he married Tesaline Marie Cramblit on April 11, 1966. Robert also served in the U.S. Navy immediately after high school, between 1946-1948 where he was honorably discharged.