Gordon Nelson
January 9, 1932 — December 14, 2016
Gordon James Nelson was born on January 9, 1932 in Harlan, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Elsie Larsen Nelson. He attended school through the sixth grade at Harlan Community School.
On February 18, 1950, Gordon married Arlene D. Petersen. Five children were born to this union: Janie Marie, LuAnn Sue, Dickie James, Johnie Gage and Jerry Jay. Gordon and Arlene later divorced. He then married Thelma Smith on September 29, 2001 in Harlan.
Gordon worked his entire life as a mechanic at various places before opening Nelson Auto Service and Gordon’s Repair, both in Audubon, Iowa. As a young man, Gordon enjoyed racing micro midget cars and stock cars. He loved vehicles of any kind and was constantly working under the hood of a car.
Gordon had a Gold Wing motorcycle and a motor home and loved to travel. Sometimes he would drive only four miles to the lake outside of town to camp for the weekend.
Gordon enjoyed collecting toy John Deere tractors and radio controlled airplanes. He was a former member of St John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon and a current member of Immanuel Lutheran in Harlan.
Gordon died on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 while a resident at Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his children, LuAnn Nelson, Dickie Nelson, and Johnie Nelson; his brother Donald Nelson; and his sister Lucille Kjergaard.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Thelma Nelson of Harlan; children Janie and her husband Gregory Valdez of San Antonio, Texas; Jerry Nelson and his wife Julie of Niceville, Florida; daughter-in-law Teresa and her husband Mark McLaughlin of Audubon; step children Tim Smith and his significant other Holly of Blair, Nebraska; Todd Smith and his fiancé Shireen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Troy Smith of Shelby, Iowa; Trent Smith of Des Moines, Iowa; Traci Smith and her significant other, Mark Haynes of Harlan; nine grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He will be terribly missed by his entire family.
On February 18, 1950, Gordon married Arlene D. Petersen. Five children were born to this union: Janie Marie, LuAnn Sue, Dickie James, Johnie Gage and Jerry Jay. Gordon and Arlene later divorced. He then married Thelma Smith on September 29, 2001 in Harlan.
Gordon worked his entire life as a mechanic at various places before opening Nelson Auto Service and Gordon’s Repair, both in Audubon, Iowa. As a young man, Gordon enjoyed racing micro midget cars and stock cars. He loved vehicles of any kind and was constantly working under the hood of a car.
Gordon had a Gold Wing motorcycle and a motor home and loved to travel. Sometimes he would drive only four miles to the lake outside of town to camp for the weekend.
Gordon enjoyed collecting toy John Deere tractors and radio controlled airplanes. He was a former member of St John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon and a current member of Immanuel Lutheran in Harlan.
Gordon died on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 while a resident at Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his children, LuAnn Nelson, Dickie Nelson, and Johnie Nelson; his brother Donald Nelson; and his sister Lucille Kjergaard.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Thelma Nelson of Harlan; children Janie and her husband Gregory Valdez of San Antonio, Texas; Jerry Nelson and his wife Julie of Niceville, Florida; daughter-in-law Teresa and her husband Mark McLaughlin of Audubon; step children Tim Smith and his significant other Holly of Blair, Nebraska; Todd Smith and his fiancé Shireen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Troy Smith of Shelby, Iowa; Trent Smith of Des Moines, Iowa; Traci Smith and her significant other, Mark Haynes of Harlan; nine grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He will be terribly missed by his entire family.
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