Claire Elza Nelson 1913-1986

NELSON, MARTINSEN, WORK, GONGAWARE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/14/2013 at 22:40:20

Supervisor Claire Nelson dies
Emmet County Supervisor Claire Nelson, 73, died Monday morning at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.

Dave Glasnapp, chairman of the county board, said Nelson was a “joy to work with” as a supervisor.

“Clair and I came on the board at the same time in November 1980. We campaigned together and were friends throughout,” said Glasnapp, adding that Nelson was very easy to work with, took care of his business and regularly tended both county and out-of county meetings.

“He took the job as supervisor very seriously,” he said. “He fulfilled all his duties.

Nelson represented the county on the Northwest Iowa Mental health Baord and the Emmet County Care Facility Board. He had served on the Northwest Judicial District Board and had been chairman of the Board of Supervisors for two years.

Glasnapp said that Nelson never admitted defeat.

“Less than two weeks ago he was at a supervisor’s meeting,“ he said.

Nelson understood drainage issues very well, said Glasnapp, adding that his expertise will be sorely missed.

“He liked working for the people. I had a lot of respect for him. He was really a good man. We had lots of fun going to meetings. He always held up his end and did his fair share,” said Glasnapp. Nelson, he said, was also very community minded and had been involved with his church over the years.

Supervisor Robert Griffith of Dolliver, had also worked with Nelson on the board for six years. He says, “I considered Claire a friend.

“He was a very fine man to work with,” continued Griffith. “We’ll miss him very much. His death is a loss to the county and to the Board of Supervisors.”

Griffith added, “He served very well,” as a board member.

County Auditor, Bev Juhl also commented on Nelson. “He was a nice man,” she said, “and an excellent supervisor.”

Nelson farmed east of Terril before retiring and moving to Estherville.

Nelson is survived by a wife Helen and a son and a daughter. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 2, 1986)

Claire Nelson
Estherville – Services for Claire Elza Nelson, 73, will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tom Balm and the Rev. Lloyd Fitch officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites being observed by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91. He died Monday, Dec. 1, 1986 at Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

Friends may call at the Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville after 3 p.m. Wednesday.

He was born Sept. 1, 1913 near Maple Hill, the son of Oscar and Lulu (Work) Nelson. He attended Emmet County country schools and graduated from Gruver High School in 1932. On Dec. 7, 1941 he was united in marriage with Helen Martinsen at Estherville. He served with the Coast Guard from May 12, 1942 till the end of World War Two. After service the couple moved to the Terril area where they farmed for 38 years until moving into Estherville in 1979. He served as an Emmet County Supervisor the past six years.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church; Town and Country Kiwanis and the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife Helen, Estherville; one daughter Carole Ann Gongaware, Long Lake, Minn. an one son Craig and his wife Linda, Terril; one granddaughter, Callie Nelson; one brother Floyd Nelson, Sioux Rapids and one sister Aletta Nelson Estherville.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 3, 1986)