Nelson, Thelma (Schwarte) Smith (1939 - 2021)

NELSON, SCHWARTE, RATIGAN, SMITH, HAYNES, VALDEZ, NELSON, MCLAUGHLIN, BRINKER, HALL, REISCHL

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 2/5/2021 at 16:33:56

Name of deceased: Thelma Smith Nelson (nee Schwarte)

Aged: 81 yrs, 5 mo, 30 days

Residence: Elk Horn, Shelby County, IA

Born: July 16, 1939; Defiance, Shelby County, IA

Died: Jan. 15, 2021; Salem Lutheran Home, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021; St. Michael's Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Children, Tim Smith of Blair, NE, Todd (spouse, Shireen) Smith of Omaha, NE, and Traci (spouse, Mark Haynes) Smith of Harlan, IA; 7 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Janie (spouse, Gregory) Valdez of San Antonio, TX, Jerry Nelson of Destin, FL, and Teresa (spouse, Mark) McLaughlin of Audubon, IA; siblings, Albert (spouse, Gay) Schwarte of Defiance, IA, Karen (spouse, Clarence) Brinker of Ankeny, IA, Richard (spouse, Myrna) Schwarte of Templeton, IA, and Joseph (spouse, Vernita) Schwarte of Defiance, IA; sister-in-law, Glenda Hall of Defiance, IA; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Joseph and Helen (nee Ratigan) Schwarte; husband, Gordon; sons, Trent Smith and Troy Smith; stepchildren, LuAnn Nelson, Dickie Nelson, and Johnie Nelson; siblings, Irene Reischl, Sr. Madona Schwarte, Sr. Darlene Schwarte, Eugene Schwarte, Dwayne Schwarte, Mike Schwarte, and Harry Schwarte

Education: Attended St. Paul’s Catholic School, Defiance, IA, and graduated with the Class of 1957

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Defiance, IA

Military service: n/a

Marriages: (1) Garry Smith; date and location not provided. They later divorced. (2) Gordon Nelson; Sep. 29, 2001; Harlan, IA.

Employment: no information provided

Hobbies/Interests: Enjoyed gardening and baking (her specialty was homemade bread in a tin can); enjoyed playing BINGO and solitaire; watching westerns and gameshows; loved Christmas with the decorating it brought; mostly, time spent with family

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