Nelson, LaVerne R. (1936-2005)

NELSON, ESBECK

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 6/9/2005 at 12:40:55

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for LaVerne R. Nelson, 68, were conducted June 4, 2005 at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, with Pastor Keith Menter officiating. Interment was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery in Elk Horn. Honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren and uncle: Holly Mahoney, Samantha Mahoney, Cassandra Nelson, Raini Britton, Cole Britton, Kailey Britton and Robert Esbeck. Casket bearers were Don Lebeck, Gary Greer, Steve Nelson, Ron Nelson, Dennis Nelson, and Kenneth Hansen.

LaVerne Richard Nelson, the son of Leonard and Dorothy Esbeck Nelson, was born July 12, 1936 at his grandparent’s home west of Exira, and died May 31, 2005, at the Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan.

LaVerne was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. He attended rural school near Kimballton then graduated from the Elk Horn–Kimballton High School with the Class of 1955. He managed Nelson DX gas station in Kimballton for a short time. Then he was employed by Kaltoft Construction until he was inducted into the United States Army in December of 1958. During his tour of duty, he was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX and also served in Germany. He was honorably discharged in October of 1960 and returned to Kimballton.

On August 6, 1961, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Baker at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan. LaVerne farmed with his father then purchased a farm near Marne in 1963. While farming, LaVerne was also employed by Lindeman’s Tractor in Atlantic for a short time. He operated their farm and continued to farm with his father until he suffered a stroke and had to retire in 2003. LaVerne was a resident of the Avoca Nursing and Rehabilitation for a short time, and then moved to the Salem Lutheran Home in April of 2004.

LaVerne was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents: Lars and Anna Nelson; and Peter and Clara Esbeck; his uncles: Herman Nelson; Ray and wife, LaVerna Nelson; Harvey and wife, Lorraine Nelson; Gene Greer; and Melvin Stalldorf; and his aunt Aletha and husband, Orville Hansen.

Survivors include his wife Marilyn Nelson of Elk Horn; his children: Cheri and husband, Mike Mahoney of Monroe, NC; Leland Nelson of Elk Horn; Paul and wife, Kim Nelson of Dexter; Nancy and husband, Kelly Britton of Elk Horn; his grandchildren: Holly and Samantha Mahoney of Monroe, NC; Cassandra Nelson of Norfolk, NE; Raini, Cole, and Kailey Britton all of Elk Horn; his parents: Leonard and Dorothy Nelson of Elk Horn; brothers–in–law and sisters–in–law: Charles and wife, Melody Baker of New Tampa, FL; Joanne and husband, Gary Parker of Columbus, NE; Russell and wife, Barbara Baker of LaVista, NE; Randy and wife, Kathy Baker of Le Grand; Beverly and husband, Larry Mundt of Fort Worth, TX; Susan Green of LaVista, NE; his aunts: Diana Greer of Harlan and Mildred Stalldorf of Stanton; his uncle: Robert and wife, Pat Esbeck of Elk Horn; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and treasured friends.