Knute O. Nelson 1858-1940

NELSON, SVENNEN, SWENNUM, BROWN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/20/2012 at 23:50:15

Knut J. Nelson, 82, a resident of Estherville since 1874, passed away at his home on north Ninth street Wednesday [January 10, 1940] morning. Mr. Nelson was taken sick Saturday evening but expert medical attention was not sufficient to battle the infirmities of old age and the weakened condition of his body.

Mr. Nelson was born November 12, 1857 [per cemetery grave stone 1858], at Morris, Ill. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church at Lisbon, Ill., by Rev. P.A. Rasmusson. When he was seventeen years old Mr. Nelson moved to Estherville where he has since made his home. He was united in marriage to Miss Ingeborg [Engeborg] Svennen of Estherville, on February 28, 1882. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. They are Hazel, Mrs. Glen Brown of Los Angeles, Calif.; Carl J. Nelson, Salt Lake City, Utah; one daughter died at the age of one year.

When he first came to Estherville Mr. Nelson was employed by the Root & Wilcox Lumber Co. Later he was engaged in the draying business and doing road work for Emmet county. The last few years he has been a familiar figure in the city park where he had a job as caretaker.

Besides his widow, daughter and son, Mr. Nelson is survived by one grandson, Everet Nelson of Salt Lake City. His parents, brothers and sisters have preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the Nelson residence and at 2:00 o’clock at the Estherville Lutheran church with Rev. L.A. Mathre in charge. Burial will be in the East Side cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, January 11, 1940)

Nelson Obituary
Knut O. Nelson was born in Morris, Ill., the 12th of Nov. 1857. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lisbon Lutheran church by the pioneer pastor, Rev. P. A. Rasmussen. He came to Emmet county as a young man and has resided at Estherville since. He was for many years employed in the Root and Wilcox lumber yard, later he was employed on county road work. For a time he did draying and in these later years he was employed as caretaker of the city park. On Feb. 28, 1893 he was united in marriage to Ingeborg Swennum of Estherville. Three children were born to them. The first child, a daughter died when a year old. The surviving children are a daughter, Hazel, Mrs. Glenn Brown of Los Angeles, Calif., and a son Carl Nelson of Salt Lake City, Utah. Besides the aforementioned children he is mourned by his wife and a grandson Everett Nelson.

Mr. Nelson had been failing in various ways lately but he was able to be up and around until a few days before his death. He became ill on Saturday evening possibly suffering a light stroke as he lost his power of speech. He gradually grew weaker and he passed away Wednesday forenoon, Jan. 10 at the age of 82 years, two months and 18 days.

The funeral was held Friday afternoon at 1:30 from the home and 2:00 at the Estherville Lutheran church with Rev. L.A. Mathre officiating. The pall bearers were Gilbert Eike, Lew Lande, Ben Lande, Eli Erickson, Ineo Flint and Peter Wicks. Interment was made at the East Side cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, January 18, 1940)