Nelson, Merle E. (1917-2005)

NELSON, JENSEN

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 10/7/2005 at 14:55:00

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for Merle E. Nelson, 88, were conducted Oct. 3, at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, with Pastor Dwayne L. Ferguson officiating. Interment was in the Merrill’s Grove Cemetery in Fiscus. Honorary casket bearers were: Terry and Norma Burger, Rick Bancroft and Kathy Jensen, George VanCleave and Lois Tunning, Lewis and Betty Buckner, Don and JoAnn Christensen, Merlyn and Helen Mortensen, Everett and Wynona Wendt, Tim O’Neil, John O’Connor, Dr. Francis and Ruth McCabe, Vince Langl, Guy and Beverly Huffman. Casket bearers were his grandsons: Brian Nelson, Ken Nelson, Jerry Young, Garrett Nelson, Doug Young and Travis Root.

Merle E. Nelson, the son of LeRoy and Edna Jensen Nelson, was born Aug. 23, 1917, on the family farm north of Fiscus, and died Sept. 29, 2005, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon.

He was baptized and became a member of the Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church, near Fiscus, at the age of 13. He attended rural school Polk #1 in Shelby County. He helped on his father’s farm and helped other farmers. On March 25, 1938, he was united in marriage to Helen C. Jensen in the Clarks Grove Baptist Church, Clarks Grove, MN. To this union four children were born: Janet, Norman, Wyman and David.

They farmed in Audubon County, Lincoln Township until 1976 when they moved into Irwin. Merle continued to farm. On Dec. 18,1981, he was united in marriage to Ethel V. Huffman at the Methodist Church in Paradise Valley, AZ. He retired from farming in 1983. He then has been a representative for the J.F. Bloom Monument Company in Omaha, NE, since 1987. They moved to Audubon where they made their home, except for spending the winter months in their home in Apache Junction, AZ.

He served as president of the Danish Baptist General Conference of America. He served 23 years on the Baptist Memorial Home Board in Harlan, and served on the board of the Iowa Baptist Convention Board. Merle had been a member of Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church in Fiscus. He became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon on June 2, 1985.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his first wife, Helen C. Nelson; his sister, Vera Nelson; his brother, Lloyd Nelson; his grand-nephew, Trevor Dinesen; his brothers-in-law: Phillip Paulsen, Martin Dinesen, Charlie Swansen, Ares Dinesen, and Henry Paulsen.

Merle is survived by his wife, Ethel Nelson of Audubon; his children: Janet and husband, Jerald Nelson of Des Moines; Norman and wife, Marilyn Nelson of Colorado Springs, CO; Wyman and wife, Laurie Nelson of Blair, NE; David and wife, Wanda Nelson of Woodward; his stepdaughter, Joyce and husband, Gerald Young of Phoenix, AZ; his grandchildren: Kendal Nelson, Dan Nelson, Beth Garton, Jonathan Nelson, Kevin Nelson, Andrea Nelson, Bradley Nelson, Garrett Nelson, and Brian Nelson; his step-grandchildren: Sherrie Jo Christensen, Douglas Young, and Jerry Young; several great-grandchildren; his brothers and sisters: Grace Paulson of Minnesota; Lucille Paulson of Harlan; Ruth Dinesen of Harlan; Everett and wife, Isabelle Nelson of Audubon; his sister-in-law, Elaine Nelson of Harlan; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.