Henry B. "Hank" Nelson 2009-1933

WALVATNE, MEYER, HERNANDEZ, LEPPERT, SEXTON

Posted By: Nancy (email)
Date: 7/21/2009 at 18:54:32

Henry B. "Hank" Nelson, 75, of Oelwein, Iowa, died at home Wednesday morning, July 15, 2009, following a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 18, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein with the Rev. Leo Combs-Lay officiating.

Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein, with graveside military rites conducted by the Ross Reid American Legion Post 9 Honor Guard.

Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein was in charge of arrangements.

Henry Burdette "Hank" Nelson was born Sept. 8, 1933, in Ossian to Joseph and Clarice (Walvatne) Nelson. He was baptized Oct. 8, 1933, and confirmed June 15, 1947, at First Lutheran Church, rural Ossian.

Hank grew up in the West Union and Eldorado area and attended the Dover No. 6 grade school in Ossian. He graduated from Clermont High School, Clermont, in 1952.

Hank was a farmhand to many farmers in the area until being drafted into the U.S. Navy Seabees in September 1955. He attended boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill., and served in Adak and Kodiak, Alaska. Hank also earned the Carpenter Apprentice Award while serving in the Navy. He was honorably discharged in September 1957.

On Dec. 16, 1956, Hank married Marilyn Meyer of Postville at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Postville. The couple moved to Oelwein in June 1959.

Henry began employment with the Iowa Department of Transportation in June 1959. After 33½ years, he retired in October 1992.

Hank and his wife were active members of Zion Lutheran Church and custodians for 36 years.

He was a member of the Lutheran Brotherhood and Men of Zion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Clarice Nelson; his son, Jeffrey Lynn Nelson; two brothers, Enoch and Kenneth Nelson; and an uncle.

Hank is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Meyer) Nelson of Oelwein; two sons Randall (Joanne) Nelson of Grundy Center and Gregory (Traci) Nelson of Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Barbara (Mike) Hernandez, also of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren; a brother Milton (Joyce) Nelson of Decorah; sisters Delores (Roger) Leppert of Dickey, N.D., and Joanne (Jack) Sexton of Dayton, Ohio; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Memorials may be given in Henry Nelson's name to the Heart of Iowa Hospice.

Fayette County Union - 21 July 2009