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Charis A. Nelson, 80

Charis Ann Nelson, 80, of Blair, died Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair after a brief illness.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the First United Methodist Church in Blair.

Charis Ann Axelson was born June 17, 1926, on a farm in Knox County, near Wausau, to Philip E. and Edna C. (Nelson) Axelson. Her mother chose her name from a book she had read titled, Charis Sees It Through.

She attended Wausau Public Schools and graduated in 1943, moved to Omaha to work at Mutual of Omaha and received her first paycheck before her 17th birthday. In 1946, she met Lester “Gus” Nelson of Oakland as he had come back from the service in Europe. They were married on June 1, 1947. They, along with their brother and sister-in-law, J. Emery and Patricia Nelson, operated Nelson Brothers Clothiers in Blair for 38 years. Mrs. Nelson also started working at the Washington County Bank in 1964 and was promoted to officer in charge of the bookkeeping department until her retirement in 1991.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Blair for 60 years. She was also involved and served as president of many civic organizations, including: American Legion Post No. 154 Auxiliary, V.F.W. Post No. 1251 Auxiliary, United Methodist Women, P.E.O. Chapter HL, and was a member of Financial Women International, Memorial Community Hospital Auxiliary, and served on the Board of Directors of the Crowell Memorial Home.

She loved to travel and she and her husband made many trips to Nebraska football games, both home and away. She traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, England, Australia, New Zealand, and Panama. Her best-known hobby was collecting kangaroos. She collected hundreds of small figurines, stuffed kangaroos, and pictures of kangaroos. All of her friends know her as the “Kangaroo Lady of Blair.”

She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Debbie Nelson of Kennard, and Marshall and Lynda Nelson of Blair; daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Mark Janky of Omaha; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; a sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Harry Wagner of Kerrville, Texas; sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Blair; and brother-in-law, Curly Nelson of Oakland; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester “Gus”; a grandson Brett Philip Nelson; and many close friends.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church in Blair, or the Crowell Memorial Home.

Moser Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

#2 Omaha World Herald 12 Mar 2007

NELSON—Charis A., age 80 yrs. of Blair. Survived by sons, Randy (Debbie) Nelson, of Kennard; Marshall (Lynda) Nelson, of Blair; daughter, Leslie (Mark) Janky, of Omaha; sister, Gloria (Harry) Wagner, of Kerrville, TX; sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson, of Blair; brother-in-law, Curly Nelson, of Oakland; 6 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild.

MEMORIAL SERVICE 10:30 am Wed., First United Methodist Church in Blair. Burial Blair Cemetery. No Visitation. Memorials to the Church and the Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

MOSER MEMORIAL CHAPEL Fremont, NE 402-721-4490

#3 Funeral Leaflet

In Memory of Charis A. Nelson

June 17, 1926 Wausa, Nebraska ~ March 10, 2007 Blair, Nebraska

Memorial Service 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, March 14, 2007 First United Methodist Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: The Rev. Denny M. Silk, The Rev. A.K. Saul. Organist: Kathleen Flynn. Music Selections: “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “I Believe”, Darna Dam, Soloist. “The Lord’s Prayer”, Duet by Tad and Dodie Eickman

Interment: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

Arrangements by Moser Memorial Chapel, Fremont, Nebraska

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

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