Nelson, Russell Milford 1917 - 2013
NELSON, LARSON, RASMUSSEN, BISCHEL, WALKER, RAMSEY, BRYNSAAS, GROTEGUT, BLEKEBERG, SUNDBY
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/26/2013 at 14:10:02
Russell Nelson, age 96, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, June 20, 2013, at the Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 24, 2013, at the Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. David Sorenson and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa.
Friends may call from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Monday morning. There will be a VFW Memorial Service at 4:00 p.m., at the funeral home on Sunday evening.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be given to the Barthell Eastern Star Home, 911 Ridgewood Drive, Decorah, IA; the Winneshiek County Hospice, 907 Montgomery St., Decorah, IA; or the Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977.
Russell Milford Nelson was born on February 6, 1917, the son of Jacob and Thearsa (Larson) Nelson in West Union, Iowa. Russell was baptized at First Lutheran near West Union and moved as an infant to Glenwood Township. He attended Glenwood Country School and Decorah Community Schools. He was confirmed at Decorah Lutheran. He entered the US Army on April 3, 1941, and served on the front lines in Africa and Italy. He was a member of the 34th Division and was discharged in Sept. 1945. He was proud to have served his country in peace and war time. On Sept. 16, 1945, he was united in marriage to Selma Rasmussen at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. They moved to Chicago and Russell worked at Oxford Electric for ten years. They then moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and Russell worked at John Deere tractor works.. Russell also was the service manager for Blacks Appliance Stores in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. They moved to Decorah in 1957, where Selma and Russell operated the Round the Clock Laundromat for eighteen years. He also served as head of maintenance at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home, retiring in 1982. Russell enjoyed country music, watching TV, fishing and football. Russell was an active member of the Decorah Lutheran Church. He enjoyed and helped out at Church in many ways over the years; scrubbing and polishing the floors of the church until he was well into his 90’s. Russell also enjoyed playing with musical group, “The Moonlighters”. Russell also was a member of the Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977, where he served as commander and was instrumental in the building of the VFW Club. He always enjoyed his friendships with all of members. He also loved having coffee at McDonalds with his buddies in the afternoon and cruising in his El Camino with his dog, Sarge.
Russell’s survivors include his daughter: Roxanne (Kevin) Bischel, Spillville, IA. One granddaughter: Rachel (Charlie) Walker, Nevada, IA. One grandson: Ryan Ramsey, Ridgeway, IA. Three great grandchildren: Dexter, Eli, Myka Jade Walker. One brother: Clarence Nelson, Chicago, IL. Two sisters-in-law: Mae Brynsaas, Decorah, IA, and Hazel (Rollie) Grotegut, Decorah, IA. Along with many nieces and nephews, and Russell’s faithful companion, Sarge.
Russell was preceded in death by parents: Jacob and Thearsa (Larson) Nelson. His wife: Selma Nelson on Feb. 18, 2009. His father and mother-in-law: Jens and Stella Rasmussen. One sister: Gladys Nelson. One half-sister: Minnie Blekeberg. One brother: Lloyd (Stella) Nelson. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Dorothy Nelson, Henrietta (Casper) Sundby, Ray (Grace) Rasmussen, Vernon (Lylas) Rasmussen, Marlyn Rasmussen, Lester (Marguerite) Rasmussen, Norman Brynsaas and Ervin (Arlene) Rasmussen.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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