Donald B. Nelson 1928-1993

NELSON, SAWTELL, RIKEARD, GRINSTEAD, WATTS

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 12/26/2014 at 22:23:17

The Hawk Eye

Donald B. Nelson, 65, of Danville, died at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 22, 1993, at Burlington Medical Center.

Born June 6, 1928, in Yarmouth, he was the son of C.B. "Benny" and Helen Sawtell Nelson. He married Donna Rikeard March 23, 1952, at Danville. She died May 5, 1971. He then married Wanda Grinstead Watts February 5, 1972, in Danville.

He was a graduate of Danville High School and the Iowa State University farm program. He was a Naval Air veteran of the Korean conflict.

Mr. Nelson had farmed in the Danville and surrounding area for 39 years. He was a member and moderator of the First Baptist Church of Danville, member of Masons, Eastern Star No. 48, and Des Moines County Cattlemen's Association, member and past president of Southeast Iowa Angus Association and Des Moines County Farm Bureau and a charter member of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and National Cattlemen's Association. He also served as director of the Danville Development Company, Beef Improvement Association, National Livestock and Meat Board, and Iowa State Swine Producers Association, director and past president of Iowa Beef Improvement Association and Des Moines County Swine Producer and director and treasurer of Geode RC&D.

Mr. Nelson was named Master Swine Producer in the state of Iowa in 1958 and Outstanding Young Farmer in the county and state of Iowa in 1962 and 1963, and was given the Robert Stevenson Memorial Service Award and inducted into the Iowa Cattleman's Hall of Fame in 1993.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Steven Nelson of Columbia, Missouri, and Stan Nelson of Danville; a daughter, Sharon Hammer of Burlington; a stepdaughter, Donna Richardson of New London; a stepson, Stephen Watts of Danville; his parents of Mediapolis; a sister, Geri Nelson of Mediapolis; a brother, Marlin Nelson of Seoul, South Korea; 11 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Masonic rites will be conducted at 6 p.m. Thursday followed by family visitation at the Elliott Chapel in New London.

The funeral for Mr. Nelson will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Danville with the Reverend Harry Hollingsworth officiating. Burial will be in Jaggar Cemetery, Danville.

Memorials have been established for the First Baptist Church in Danville and the Tri- State Agricultural Education Foundation at Southeastern Community College.