John Joseph Nelson 1943 - 2017

KNEIFL, NELSON, GILL, NOE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/12/2017 at 10:58:54

Sioux City Journal
16 February 2017

SIOUX CITY | John J. Nelson, 73, of Sioux City, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home after battling Parkinson's Disease.

Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Retirement Home Chapel, with the Rev. Dennis Meinen officiating. Visitation will be 12:30 p.m. until service time Friday at Holy Spirit Retirement Home Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

John Joseph Nelson was born to James A. and Helen (Kneifl) Nelson, on Dec. 21, 1943, at St. Joseph Hospital in Sioux City. He was raised and went to school at Jackson, Neb. and graduated from Emerson Sacred Heart in 1962. He farmed near Jackson until he sold out in 1978 and moved to Sioux City. While farming, he also worked for the Sioux City Journal. After moving to Sioux City, he worked for Iowa Beef Processors and then for Terra Nitrogen at Port Neal for 28 years.

John served in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969. Sgt. Nelson was a truck driver with the 120th Transportation Company in Can Tho, Vietnam. He was formerly with the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, 133rd Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colo.

He married Gloria Gill and later divorced. He married Gayle (Noe) Sturgeon on July 27, 1995.

He was a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Harty-McNally Post 175 in Jackson. He was of the Catholic faith.

He is survived by his wife, Gayle; three sons, John M. (Gina) and daughters, Alexis and Alayna Nelson of Des Moines, Matthew T. Nelson of California and son, Dylan Nelson of Sioux City, and Chad J. Nelson of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one daughter, Laura (Rogelio) and daughters, Nichole and Melissa Mendez of Antioch, Calif.; a special son, Matt (Leisha) and daughter, Haili Renner of Adair, Okla.; four sisters, Mary (Gene) Bartling, Patti (Ken) Dinges, and Judi (Jim) Dinges of Jackson, and Karla (Kent) Carnell of Ponca, Neb.; several nieces and nephews; an uncle, Louie (Jean) Nelson of La Mirada, Calif.; and two aunts, Mary Kneifl of South Sioux City, and Letha Hollingsworth.

John was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Daniel; and brothers, James and Terry.