Nelsen, Donald LaVerne (1943 - 2022)

NELSEN, ANDERSEN, DANKER, RATTENBORG, HERRON, KARDELL, MYERS

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/4/2022 at 16:25:57

Name of deceased: Donald LaVerne Nelsen

Aged: 79 yrs, 3 mo, 18 days

Residence: Avoca, IA

Born: May 17, 1943; rural Audubon, Audubon County, IA

Died: Sep. 4, 2022; Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Tuesday, Sep. 13, 2022; Trinity Lutheran Church, Avoca, IA; burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery, Audubon, IA

Survived by: Wife of 59 years, Dorothy (nee Andersen) Nelsen of Avoca, IA; children, Nicholas Nelsen of Avoca, IA, Andrea (spouse, Kerry) Danker of Avoca, IA, and James (spouse, Jenny) Nelsen of Van Meter, IA; siblings, Darrell (spouse, Sue) Nelsen of Audubon, IA, Tom Nelsen of Audubon, IA, and Vitta Rattenborg of Audubon, IA, Frank (spouse, Marlene) Nelsen of Avoca, IA, and Phyliss Nelsen of Des Moines, IA; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Emmert and Margaret (nee Herron) Nelsen; daughter, Teresa Kardell; siblings, Arnold Nelsen and Marie Myers; father- and mother-in-law, Samuel and Elvira Andersen

Education: Attended country school and graduated from Audubon (IA) High School with the Class of 1961; was active in high school sports in football, track and wrestling.

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, IA

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Dorothy Andersen; Jan. 27, 1963; location not provided

Employment: After completing high school in 1961, Don worked with Aagaard Construction and served as a deputy for the City of Audubon. In 1965, he joined the Iowa State Patrol after completing the police academy; he retired from the state patrol in 1980 and purchased Nelsen’s Mini Mart in Avoca, IA, managing the store until 2013.

Hobbies/Interests: He was active in coaching his children’s sporting events and also coached high school football, first as an assistant coach and then assuming head coach duties when Coach Wharton retired after the 1994 season. In 1996 he was honored with the District Coach of the Year Award. Don was also a Bus Driver for AHSTW schools for many years and drove to various sporting activities. He loved being a part of the community, as well as having coffee with buddies or playing pool; was an avid golfer and enjoyed Thursday’s “Men Night” and evenings with the Nerd Herd; most Saturdays were spent attending church followed by dinner out at various area restaurants. In the fall, Don would be watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers.

Sources: kjan.com; legacy.com; kesslerfuneralhomes.com