Merle E. Nelson

JOHNSTON, BARKER

Posted By: Larry Nelson (email)
Date: 2/19/2009 at 18:47:21

Merle Ernest Nelson was born on 8 April 1908 in Washington Township, Van Buren Co., Iowa. He married Naomi Roberta Johnston on 24 December 1930 with whom he had five children, Robert, Desda, Carol, Richard and Larry. Merle and Roberta made their home on a farm (250 acres) three miles west of Utica, Iowa in both Union and Washington Townships. After ten years of marriage they separated and divorced seven years later. Roberta raised the children on the farm with the help of her father, Rueben Johnston. Merle returned to Iowa and lived on a portion of his former farm until it was sold. He bought a small acreage (40) south of where his parents had lived and farmed and raised cattle there until he died. . Merle died on 11 July 1978 at the age of 70 years.