Elmer A. Nelson, 73

Elmer Allan Nelson, 73, of Gretna, died Sunday, July 16, 2000, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. Services were held on Wednesday, July 19 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn.

The Rev. Mark Fry officiated. Interment was at Evergreen Memorial Park in Omaha.

Elmer A. Nelson was born April 1, 1927 in Omaha to Hans and Lena (Kruse) Nelson. He was the second to the youngest of five Nelson children. He grew up on the family farm located near 144th and Blondo streets, on what is now the housing development called “Nelson’s Creek”.

He attended District 58 school before attending Underwood High School. He helped out extensively on the farm and also began to deliver mail as a postal carrier to rural route customers.

He was drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces in 1950, and assigned to Europe during the Korean War. He advanced to the rank of corporal before being honorably discharged in September of 1952.

He returned stateside to continue with the postal service as well as work on the farm. He met and would later marry Doreen Christensen in Arlington at the stock car races where Elmer was competing as a driver.

They were married at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn on May 13, 1956. The couple lived at 144th and State streets in Omaha for three years before remodeling a schoolhouse into their home at 144th and Blondo. They lived there for 27 years before moving to their present home in Gretna in 1986.

Elmer was blessed with good physical health until cancer was detected in 1997. It was treated, but additional lung cancer was discovered in February of 2000. The advancement of that cancer led to his death.

Nelson was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. He served on the Douglas County Fair Board for 25 years.

He was recently granted a life-time membership in American Legion Post #374. He was a mail carrier for more than 35 years. He was a member of F.O.E. branch #3943 in Elkhorn; and was a member of VFW branch #8334.

Nelson enjoyed traveling and was a NASCAR enthusiast. He died latch hooking in his spare time and loved to play cards. He was a caring and meticulous yard landscaper. He also taught himself to play by ear many familiar songs and hymns on the organ.

He is survived by his wife, Doreen of Gretna; a son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Janine Nelson of Omaha; son Brent Nelson and friend Ann Strudl, also of Omaha; three grandchildren, Jack, Van, and Pete Nelson; a brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Florence Nelson, of Omaha; two sisters-in-law, Mattie Nelson of Omaha and Annette Nelson of Clarinda, Iowa; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Mildred, and two brothers, Leonard and Robert.

Memorials are suggested to the church or choice.

Reichmuth Funeral Homes in Elkhorn were in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~