Leonard V. NELSON

NELSON, HANSON, EDEN, FUNNELL, WARD, CHRISTIANSON, LORENTZEN, COLLINS, MITCHELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/1/2007 at 22:15:56

MASON CITY — Leonard V. Nelson, 89, of Mason City died Saturday (May 7, 2005) at Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. Jim Stiles of First United Methodist Church officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Leonard V. Nelson Memorial Fund.

Leonard was born Nov. 23, 1915, in Goldfield, the son of George F. and Agnes (Hanson) Nelson. He spent his early years in and around the Clear Lake area and attended school there. At 17, Leonard began to work for an area farmer until March of 1942 when he enlisted in the Army. Leonard served as a munitions worker in China, Burma and India. He was honorably discharged in September of 1945. Leonard was united in marriage to Clara Eden in June of 1946 in Austin, Minn. He worked for Builders Supply, which later became Farm and Town Lumber, as a yard foreman, continuing in that position when the company became Lampert's. Leonard retired in 1980. Leonard was a skilled carpenter who built furniture and kitchen cupboards in many area homes. He enjoyed camping, fishing and playing cards with his grandchildren in addition to the many toys he built for them. He also loved cooking and baking, occasionally preparing a special meal for the family. Leonard was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Moose Lodge and a lifetime member of The VFW Post 773.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Clara of Mason City; two daughters, Virginia (David) Funnell of Forest City and Katherine Ward of Mason City; grandchildren, Sherri (Brian) Christianson of Brookings, S.D., Misti Funnell of Clear Lake, and Tracey Lorentzen of Mason City. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren Dylan Collins and Mariah Collins both of Mason City, Macyn Christianson of Brookings, S.D.; brother Merril Nelson of Pine River, Minn.; sister-in-law, Ethel Nelson of Brainerd, Minn., and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Marcella Mitchell, and one brother, Marlyn Nelson, a sister-in-law and a son-in-law. Major Erickson Funeral Home.

Mason City Globe Gazette
May 10, 2005