NELSON, L. Eugene 1930-2013
NELSON, UPHAM, SMITH
Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 6/10/2014 at 17:53:50
L. Eugene "Gene" Nelson
September 26, 2013
Obituary for L. Eugene Nelson--
L. Eugene Nelson, age 83 of Fredericksburg, Iowa died Thursday, September 26, 2013, at his home.
Memorial services will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 5, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Fredericksburg with Rev. Mike Christie officiating.
Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Gene was born February 28, 1930, in St. Croix, Wisconsin, the younger of two children of Leon and Flora (Smith) Nelson. After graduating from high school in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, Gene joined the U.S. Army. He then attended the University of Wisconsin before moving to Fredericksburg in 1952, where he met his future wife Grace Upham on November 11, 1956. They became the first couple to be married in the (new) United Methodist Church. To this union were born a son, Keith, and a daughter, Lynn. Gene worked for the United States Postal Service for 37 years, retiring in 1997. Stamp collecting was a special hobby.
Gene, Grace and their children traveled the United States widely, visiting 47 states. Gene and Grace visited the remaining three states, as well as all seven continents. They shared their love of travel with grandchildren Sandra and Zach Nelson through educational trips throughout the United States and Canada. They related stories of their travels to audiences at schools and other organizations.
Gene became a Charter Member of the local Lions Club in 1955. He held various offices in the club, and became District Governor in 1965. He received many awards for his service to the organization, including the Ralph A. Whitten Service Award; the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Service; and the Lions Club International Foundation Award.
A Master Gardener (ISU Extension) and dedicated volunteer, Gene was actively involved in numerous projects at local and state levels. Of special significance to him was the Butterfly Garden at Mattke Park. He conceived, created, and maintained the garden for several years.
At the state level, Gene was an Ambassador for Trees Forever. As a result of Gene’s yearly grant writing and planting of trees, Fredericksburg was named a Tree City, USA, for 11 consecutive years. In 1995, the Iowa Urban and Community Forestry Council named Gene the Iowa Outstanding Community Forestry Volunteer, for his dedication to the urban forests of his community and state.
Locally, Gene was honored for numerous projects by the Fredericksburg Garden Club and by the Chickasaw County Conservation Board. Gene enjoyed working with Fredericksburg students teaching them about plants and nature. Additionally, he served on the Fredericksburg Town Council from 1975-1979, was a top blood donor in Chickasaw County with more than 9 gallons donated, and was a Charter Member of the Upper Iowa Audubon Society.
Gene greatly enjoyed sports. He was a Club Champion of the Fredericksburg Golf Course and President at the time of the Club’s opening. He was scorekeeper for home Fredericksburg High School basketball games for 28 years and timekeeper for FHS football games for 47 years. He was also a runner and a cyclist, completing RAGBRAI six times.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Grace; daughter Lynn, St. Louis Park, MN; son Keith (Lori), Mesa, AZ; grandchildren Sandra and Zachary, Gilbert, AZ; and sister Norma (Wallace) Hammerberg, Ellison Bay, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Flora (Smith) Nelson Dickie, and by his step-father, Albert Dickie.
Source: Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home website
Chickasaw Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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