Nelson, Gordon (1932 - 2016)

NELSON, VALDEZ, MCLAUGHLIN, SMITH, LARSEN, KJERGAARD, PETERSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/18/2016 at 16:28:53

Name of deceased: Gordon James Nelson

Aged: 84 yrs, 11 mo, 5 days

Residence: Avoca Specialty Care, Avoca, IA

Born: Jan. 9, 1932; Harlan, IA

Died: Dec. 14, 2016; Avoca Specialty Care, Avoca, IA

Funeral services: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife, Thelma Nelson of Harlan, IA; children, Janie (spouse, Gregory) Valdez of San Antonio, TX, and Jerry Nelson (spouse, Julie) of Niceville, FL; daughter-in-law, Teresa (spouse, Mark) McLaughlin of Audubon, IA; step-children, Tim Smith (significant other, Holly) of Blair, NE, Todd Smith (fiancé, Shireen) of Council Bluffs, IA, Troy Smith of Shelby, IA, Trent Smith of Des Moines, IA, and Traci Smith (significant other, Mark Haynes) of Harlan, IA; 9 grandchildren; 5 step-grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Clarence and Elsie (nee Larsen) Nelson; children, LuAnn Nelson, Dickie Nelson, and Johnie Nelson; brother, Donald Nelson; sister, Lucille Kjergaard

Education: attended school at Harlan (IA) Community School through Grade 6

Religious affiliation: was a former member of St John’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, IA and a current member of Immanuel Lutheran in Harlan, IA

Military service: no information provided

Marriages: (1) Arlene D. Petersen; Feb. 18, 1950; location not provided; they later divorced. (2) Thelma Smith; Sep. 29, 2001; Harlan, IA

Employment: worked as a mechanic for his entire life at various businesses before opening Nelson Auto Service and Gordon’s Repair, both in Audubon, IA.

Hobbies/Interests: enjoyed collecting toy John Deere tractors and radio controlled airplanes; enjoyed racing micro midget cars and stock cars; owned a Gold Wing motorcycle and a motor home and loved to travel, sometimes driving only 4 miles to the lake outside of town to camp for the weekend.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com