Mansel was born near Weldon, Iowa on December 21, 1917, the eldest son of Roger E. and Shirley LANDRUM NURNBERG. He attended school and graduated from LeRoy, Iowa.

In the spring of 1939 he moved with his family to a farm 1/2 mile west of Arispe. On November 12, 1939, his father was killed instantly at the railroad crossing in Arispe [Union County, Iowa].

Mansel, with his younger brother Kenneth, carried on with the farm work. On June 17, 1941, he was married to Harriet LONG at the First Methodist Church in Des Moines by Rev. C. Clifford BACON. They established their home in the family residence.

On February 18, 1942, spark from the chimney set the roof of their home on fire and with a strong northwest wind, fire soon engulfed the house, despite the good help that responded to the alarm.

The farm was owned by Gale MCALL of Afton and he had the house rebuilt the next summer.

After several years of farming, they moved to a farm southwest of Ellston in Ringgold County. Mansel began operating heavy equipment for Russell CHEERS and did so until June of 1966 when he purchased the HD16 tractor and dozer from Russell. He continued doing conservation work until the late 1970's when his health began to fail. It is estimated that he built nearly 300 farm ponds during his career. He loved the conservation work and was a perfectionist at what he did.

Mansel and Harriet raised five children: Roger, Jerry, Jim, Toia and Randy. Mansel passed away February 13, 1983. Harriet is living in Creston.

SOURCE: Arispe [Iowa] Centennial: 1887 - 1987 p. 207. 1987.

Transciption by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009