NELSON, Alton Melvin

NELSON, BLOOMQUIST, BUERKLEY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/22/2013 at 02:02:00

Alton Melvin Nelson, 88, 421 S. 9th St., Clear Lake, Iowa, died Tuesday, Oct.
30, 2001, at the North Iowa Mercy Medical Center, Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 3, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel,
101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Daird Korth officiating.

Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Alton
M. Nelson Memorial fund.

Alton was born at home Nov. 22, 1912, in Wasua, Neb., the son of Carl A. and
Hattie Caroline (Bloomquist) Nelson. He was baptized Lutheran and later, March
24, 1929, confirmed at St. Paul¹s Lutheran Missouri Synod in Neb.

When Alton was three years old, his family moved from Wasau to Walnut, Neb.
where his father farmed. He attended a country school in Walnut until the
eighth grade, when he quit school to help his father with the farm. On July 28,
1935, he married the love of his life, Gertrude Buerkley. While they farmed in
Orchard, Neb., they had three children. Due to a severe drought in 1952, they
sold the farm and moved east of Sheffield, Iowa. After renting a farm there for
one year, they moved again in 1954 and purchased a 240 acre farm north of Clear
Lake. While on the farm Alton raised corn, beans and even raised sugar beets
for Crystal Sugar for two years. He had 10,000 laying hens and 500 goslings.
In 1964 they moved into the town of Clear Lake. They purchased the Lake Park
Tap & Grill, the Town Pump, and The Cave. Alton and Gert ran the Lake Park
together until they retired in 1975. They were married for 64 years.

Alton was an active member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ventura, and also
a member of the Clear Lake Noon Lions for 30 years. He enjoyed traveling,
dancing, woodworking, gardening and fishing.

Alton had many friends and enjoyed life to the fullest, he never had a bad word
about anyone and was always smiling. He was a wonderful husband, father, and
grandpa. He will be missed very much by all.

Alton is survived by three children, Natalie Weber and her husband, David,
Avondale, Az., Aloyce ³Bud² Nelson and his wife, Juan, Burlington, Iowa, and
Elouise ³Elly² Harmeyer and her husband, Lloyd, Clear Lake; seven grandchildren,
Teresa Runia and her husband Curt, Chandler, Az., Dwight Krukow, Clear Lake,
Sheila Krukow, Chandler, Az., Susan Story, Rowlett, Texas, Ronda Fredrickson and
her husband, Mark, Tacoma, Wash., Julie Smith, Kent, Wash., and Brett Nelson and
his wife, Carin, Burlington, Iowa; fourteen great-grandchildren; and one
brother, Clayton Nelson and his wife, Wanda, South Sioux City, Neb.

Alton was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Gertrude on Nov 9,
1999; and one grandchild.