Gene W. NELSON

NELSON, BURG, MIDTHUN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/23/2015 at 15:36:06

October 1, 1920 --- November 28, 2009

Gene W. Nelson, 88, of St. Peter, [Minnesota] died Friday, November 28, 2008 at the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter. Services are 11:00 a.m., Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter, with burial in Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 until the time of the service at the church on Thursday. St. Peter Funeral Home-Klein Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Gene was born October 1, 1920 to Hannah and Nels Nelson in Elmore, Minnesota. His family lived in Eagle Grove, Iowa until he was 11 years of age. The family returned to Elmore where he graduated from Elmore High School in 1938. he volunteered and enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was in the service for four years during World War II. He met and married Irene M. Midthun, October 15, 1944 at the South Blue Earth Church in Bricelyn. Upon returning to his civil duties, he enrolled in the Dunwoody College of Technology where he majored in architecture. He worked as an architectural draftsman and estimator for the Babcock Stone Company in Kasota for 24 years. He was also employed by Arrigoni Brothers of St. Paul for 10 years, where he worked in the same capacity. Gene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the American legion, the Mason’s Zurah Shrine Temple of Minneapolis, and was a member of the Shoreland Country Club since 1949. He loved the game of golf. He could still be seen golfing this past summer at Shoreland, where he was an active member for many years. He loved college football also and was an all-around avid sports fan. The life he led has been a great example of strong family values, with a passion for being a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Gene is survived by his wife, Irene; daughter Lynn and son-in-law Tom Burg; grandson, Mitch Burg; brother, Marv Nelson; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Terrance and Gregory; and two brothers, Le Roy and Sam. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Heart Association or the St. Peter Area Hospice.