Gladys Irene (Allie) Nelson (1917-2009)

NELSON, ALLIE, JOHNSTON, SMITH-NELSON, SMITH, EGEMO, HANDLY, ARCHESKE, SCHILLING, DUERKES, WRIGHT, ROWE, LEE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/14/2009 at 09:22:56

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Gladys Irene (Allie) Nelson, 91, of Story City, formerly of Harrison Township, Boone County, Iowa, was born on Sept. 25, 1917 to Jesse and Stella (Johnston) Allie. Gladys died on Saturday, May 2, 2009 of heart failure where she was living with her daughter, Joyce, for the past eight years.

She and Robert Ed Nelson were the first couple to be married at the present Mackey United Methodist Church, Boone County, Iowa on June 21, 1943. To this union was born one beloved son, Roger Eugene in 1946. Gladys liked to tell the story about the great thunder/rain storm the day of their wedding and that guests had to spend the night at her parents' home two miles from the church because of washed out roads.

Gladys attended country schools in Hamilton and Boone Counties through 8th grade. She farmed alongside her husband for 56 years and also assisted him delivering the Des Moines Sunday and daily papers for seven years, mowing the Harrison Township Cemetery, next to the Mackey United Methodist Church and delivering eggs in Ames and Boone for many years and just being a good neighbor. Gladys had been a member of Mackey United Methodist Church since grade school and remained active until her death.

Throughout her life, she was an active member of the Farm Bureau, the Daughters of American Revolution (Ames Chapter), the White Shrine of Ames, the Amaranth Court No. 6 of Ames, the Order of the Eastern Star of Boone, plus served two terms as Worthy Matron along with other offices in the Magi Chapter No. 139.

Gladys was well known for her positive attitude; creative cake decorating, sewing, many crafts; and her special ways with children. Her grandchildren especially liked their special birthday cakes and her home made chicken and noodles. The basic values and work ethic that were instilled by her parents remained with her throughout life.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Joyce (Smith-Nelson) and Larry Egemo of Story City, her two grandchildren Beth Ann (Egemo) Handly and her husband Brad of Waupaca, Wisconsin and Martin Dean Egemo of Mesa, Arizona; two great-grandchildren, Chase Allen Handly and Mia Rose Handly of Waupaca, Wisconsin; her brother-in-law, Ray Archeske, her nieces and nephews Tom Allie, Diane (Allie) Schilling, Gail (Allie) Thomas, Kristy (Allie) Duerkes, Donna (Archeske) Wright, Mark Archeske, David Archeske, Florence (Lee) Rowe, and Frank Lee; also cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Nelson, her son Roger Nelson, her parents and her brother Lester Allie and sister Ruby Archeske.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the Mackey United Methodist Church at 130th and V Avneue in NE Boone County. Margaret Aiseayew will officiate.

Burial will be in the Harrison Township Cemetery, next to the Mackey United Methodist Church. Visitation was held on Tuesday, May 5, at the Walter-Schroeder Funeral Home at Fifth & Story Streets in Boone from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family present at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There was an Eastern Star Service at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continued at the funeral home Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. then at the church from 11:30 a.m. to the service time at 1:00 p.m.

Memorials may be given to the family, to be used at their discretion.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at the website www.walter-schroederfuneralhome.com. Walter–Schroeder Funeral Home at Fifth & Story Streets in Boone is in charge of the arrangements.