Nelson F. Preus Died 1999

PREUS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/25/2014 at 23:37:21

Onawa Sentinel
8 July 1999

Nelson F. Preus, 81, was born in Beloit, Wisconsin and grew up in Decorah, Iowa. He received a bachelor's degree in 1939 from Luther College, a master's degree in English from the University of Iowa, and a master's degree in theology from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Mn.

He was an English teacher for a year at Dana College in Blair, NE, and later taught part time at Luther Seminary.

His first pastoral call was to Onawa, IA where he served the Skein Lutheran at Albaton and Trinity Lutheran of Onawa during,1945 and 1946. He later
served churches in Waukon, IA, Fargo and Grand Forks, ND. In 1972 he was elected Bishop of
the Eastern North Dakota District of the American Lutheran Church and served in that position for twelve years.

He retired to Fridley in 1985, but continued to serve in eight more interim pastorates, including one year at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, until his illness prevented him from continuing.

Described as a "serious sportsman", he enjoyed fishing and hunting.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Fridley, MN; a son, Joel of Tours, France; daughters Mary of Minneapolis and Sara Klingberg of Seoul, South Korea; brothers David Preus of Minneapolis, MN, Christian Preus of Laporte, MN, Paul Preus of West Yarmouth, MA, and Ove Preus of Sacramento, CA; and five grandchildren.