Nelson, Gordon P. (1918-2012)

NELSON, TWEETEN, HOLSTAD

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/29/2012 at 15:50:25

Gordon P. Nelson
May 16, 1918 - October 12, 2012

FOREST CITY - Gordon P. Nelson, age 94, of Forest City, died Friday, October 12, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Gordon Perry Nelson was born on May 16, 1918, the son of Ernest and Gena (Tweeten) Nelson. Baptized at Bethel Lutheran Church, Mount Valley Township, Winnebago County, and confirmed at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, he attended rural elementary school and graduated from Forest City High School in 1936. He subsequently assisted his father on their farm until March 11, 1941, when he was inducted into the U.S. Army - the first draftee to be called from the Winnebago Church congregation.

Commissioned a Second Lieutenant on March 25, 1943, following several promotions, Gordon served with the 102nd Infantry Division in France, Holland, and Germany until the German surrender in 1945. He was discharged from active duty as a Captain on February 26, 1946.

Gordon, then, returned to farming with his father and brothers, Kenton and Lester, and at the same time, he attended Waldorf College for two semesters. In the fall of 1947, he enrolled at the University of Denver.

Gordon married Orla Holstad, daughter of Albert and Amanda Holstad, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett, Iowa, on September 3, 1948. They made their home in Denver. Gordon continued his studies at the University, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in physics. Orla worked in the office of Denver's Stapleton Airport.

With the outbreak of the Korean War, Gordon was recalled into military service while he was attending the University of Minnesota - this time with the U. S. Air Force. Subsequently assigned to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Los Angeles, and the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, California, Gordon served in each of these assignments as an engineer in the offices managing the development of new aircraft and ballistic missiles. In 1957, he earned a Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on March 20, 1966.

Gordon retired from the Air Force on September 30, 1969, and the family moved to a farm near Joice, Iowa, which they had previously purchased. He and his sons, Steven and Gregory, operated the farm until 1982.

Gordon worked in several capacities at the Winnebago Church and served as Township Trustee and Assistant Soil Commissioner.

In 1972, the family embarked on a three month trip touring Europe in a small motorhome. In 1989, they toured Hawaii.

Gordon is survived by his sons, Steven Nelson, of Lake Mills, and Gregory Nelson, of Golden, Colorado; his grandchildren, Eric (Amie) Nelson, of Lenexa, Kansas, Jennifer Nelson, of Columbia, Missouri, Derek Nelson, of Golden, Colorado, and Daniel Nelson, of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and a great-granddaughter, Scotlyn Nelson, of Lenexa, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Orla; his parents; and two brothers, Lester (Madge) Nelson and Kenton (Loretta) Nelson, and a daughter-in-law, Rachel Nelson.

Funeral service will be held at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at the Winnebago Lutheran Church in rural Lake Mills with Pastor Bill Peters officiating.
Burial will be in the Winnebago Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark Street, Forest City, and will continue an hour prior to the service at the church.

Copyright © 2012, Petersen Lund Funeral Home

Petersen Lund Funeral Home
 

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