Thelma I. Nelson
March 10, 1919 — June 19, 2007
Thelma Izora Nelson, daughter of Hjalmer and Isabel (Nelson) Wiig, was born on March 10, 1919, south of Irwin, Iowa. She attended school in Irwin and graduated with the Class of 1937.
After graduation, she moved to Oxford, Pennsylvania, with her parents, two sisters, and one brother. They lived there for eighteen months then returned to Iowa. That winter, she helped with housework and meals for a farm couple, Chris and Christina Nelson. Their son, Melvin Nelson, came home one weekend for a visit, met Thelma, and they fell in love. A year later, on December 25, 1939, Thelma and Melvin were united in marriage at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church south of Irwin.
In the spring, they moved to a farm six miles north of Walnut where their children, Jerry Lee and Julie Dianne, were born. After a few years, they moved to Irwin where Melvin was a carpenter. Later they moved to Harlan. Thelma enjoyed her role as wife, mother, and grandmother. Melvin passed away May 17, 1981. Thelma continued living in her home until she entered Elm Crest Retirement Community in April of 2001 and lived there until her death on June 19, 2007. She had attained the age of eighty-eight years, three months, and nine days. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin Nelson, her parents, three infant brothers and one infant sister.
Thelma is survived by her son Jerry Nelson and his wife Lois of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and her daughter Julie French of Omaha, Nebraska; nine grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her brother Hilmer Wiig and his wife Glendeen of Bancroft, Nebraska; her sisters: Dolores Mickelson of Harlan, Iowa, and Gloria and her husband Carroll Kallevig of Irwin, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, June 21, 2007, beginning at 1:00 PM at Grace Baptist Church in Harlan. Pastor Greg White officiated the service. Casket bearers were David Nelson, Doug Nelson, Eugene Mericle, Chris Von Mende, Chris Scelonge, Vince Brandts and Brian Ferguson with interment held at the Harlan Cemetery.
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After graduation, she moved to Oxford, Pennsylvania, with her parents, two sisters, and one brother. They lived there for eighteen months then returned to Iowa. That winter, she helped with housework and meals for a farm couple, Chris and Christina Nelson. Their son, Melvin Nelson, came home one weekend for a visit, met Thelma, and they fell in love. A year later, on December 25, 1939, Thelma and Melvin were united in marriage at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church south of Irwin.
In the spring, they moved to a farm six miles north of Walnut where their children, Jerry Lee and Julie Dianne, were born. After a few years, they moved to Irwin where Melvin was a carpenter. Later they moved to Harlan. Thelma enjoyed her role as wife, mother, and grandmother. Melvin passed away May 17, 1981. Thelma continued living in her home until she entered Elm Crest Retirement Community in April of 2001 and lived there until her death on June 19, 2007. She had attained the age of eighty-eight years, three months, and nine days. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin Nelson, her parents, three infant brothers and one infant sister.
Thelma is survived by her son Jerry Nelson and his wife Lois of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and her daughter Julie French of Omaha, Nebraska; nine grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her brother Hilmer Wiig and his wife Glendeen of Bancroft, Nebraska; her sisters: Dolores Mickelson of Harlan, Iowa, and Gloria and her husband Carroll Kallevig of Irwin, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, June 21, 2007, beginning at 1:00 PM at Grace Baptist Church in Harlan. Pastor Greg White officiated the service. Casket bearers were David Nelson, Doug Nelson, Eugene Mericle, Chris Von Mende, Chris Scelonge, Vince Brandts and Brian Ferguson with interment held at the Harlan Cemetery.
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