Clarence "CJ" Junior Nelson 1939-1969

NELSON, BONSTEAD, BLIGHTON, BECK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/20/2012 at 00:35:35

Two Estherville Men are Killed in Truck Accident
A single-vehicle accident near Pecos, Tex., Tuesday claimed the lives of two Estherville men.

Richard Leo Reinesch and Clarence Junior Nelson, both 29, were killed when the pickup truck in which they were riding collided with a bridge abutment about 30 mile west of Pecos on Texas Highway 80. The accident occurred about 11:30 a.m.

The truck, owned by Reinesch, struck the bridge abutment on the right side of the road as the vehicle was traveling east, according to the Texas Highway Patrol. Reinesch was found near the vehicle’s steering wheel and nelson was found outside the vehicle, where he had been thrown by the impact. It was not immediately known who was driving at the time.

The men had left Estherville Friday for Juarez, Mexico, where they were to have some auto seats re-upholstered. The seats were for a car that Reinesch was rebuilding. The men were believed returning home at the time of the accident.

Clarence Nelson was born Nov. 20 [January 20, 1939] to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Nelson on a farm near Dickens. He attended Ayrshire schools until the seventh grade when he moved with his family to Emmetsburg. He enrolled as a sophomore at Estherville High School when the family moved here after about two years at Emmetsburg.

He graduated from Estherville High School in 1957. Following graduation, he worked briefly in the Estherville area before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served on an aircraft carrier during most of his Navy career and was discharged in May 1962. Following his discharge, he began working at John Morrell & Co., Estherville, where he was employed at the time of his death.

On Aug. 4, 1962, he married Shirley Bonstead at Wallingford.

In addition to his parents, Nelson is survived by his wife; and a five-year-old son, Terry Lee; his parents; a sister, Mrs. Charles (Marcella) Beck; and paternal grandfather, August Nelson, Spencer.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Wendy, who died in infancy in 1966. He was also preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Blighton, Emmetsburg, and paternal grandmother, Mrs. August (Mary Marie) Nelson, Dickens.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and Estherville Saddle Club.

Funeral arrangements for both are pending at Reese-Henry Funeral Home. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 22, 1969)