Nelson, Shirley Ann (Rasmussen) (1937 - 2025)

NELSON, RASMUSSEN, HOUGH, PLATT, MARTIN, CAMPBELL, FAABORG, LARSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 11/3/2025 at 20:07:02

Name of deceased: Shirley Ann Nelson (nee Rasmussen)

Aged: 87 yrs, 10 mo, 26 days

Residence: Elk Horn, Shelby County, IA

Born: Nov. 26, 1937; rural Audubon County, IA

Died: Oct. 22, 2025; Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA

Funeral services: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kimballton, IA; burial was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery, Elk Horn, IA

Survived by: Husband of 68 years, Martin Nelson of Elk Horn, IA; children, Dean (spouse, Kathy) Nelson of Atlantic, IA, Bruce (spouse, Patty) Nelson of Atlantic, IA; and Brenda Nelson (spouse, Tony Hough) of Elk Horn, IA; grandchildren, Stacey Platt, Misty Nelson, Casey Martin, Michael Nelson, Cammi Nelson, Dylan Nelson; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Harriet Campbell of Exira, IA; Danish exchange granddaughter, Johanne Lyager; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Peter and Lydia (nee Faaborg) Rasmussen; sister, Irene Larsen

Education: Graduated from Audubon (IA) High School, Class of 1956.

Religious affiliation: Lutheran

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Martin Nelson; Aug. 1957; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kimballton, IA. The church has a chandelier that is still hanging which was put up when her grandfather, Johannes Faaborg, helped build the church in 1875.

Employment: After she graduated from high school, Shirley worked as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell in Audubon, IA. Later, she moved to Atlantic, IA to work at Atlantic Wholesale Company, and lived with her aunt and uncle there. Shirley spent more than 55 years as a sales representative for Avon and, in addition, 20 years as a travel agent. She also spent time working for Salem Lutheran Home as a nurse’s aide as well as in the Alzheimer’s unit. She did all of this while also being a farm wife, helping Martin out on the farm.

Hobbies/Interests: Enjoyed traveling with Martin, and they traveled extensively all over the United States; Shirley made it to Europe on 2 separate occasions. They wintered 5 seasons down in Texas; in her free time, she loved to go shopping at Von Maur. In the early 80's Shirley, Harriet, Irene and Cousin Alice together created the Faaborg Family history book and were instrumental in organizing a family reunion (with more than 100 participants!) every 2-5 years.

Sources: kjan.com; knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com