Services Are Held Wednesday For Kent Nelson

Services were held Wednesday, January 3, at First Lutheran Church for Kent M. Nelson who died Sunday, December 31, 1978, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Kent, who was 28 at the time of his death, was shot early Sunday while at the home of his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pedersen, of Council Bluffs.

The 11 a.m. services were held at First Lutheran Church. Rev. John Petersen officiated. Burial was in the Blair Cemetery.

Kent M. Nelson was born November 20, 1950, to Shurley and Janet L. Jensen Nelson in Herman, Nebraska. He attended Glendale Grade School and graduated from Blair High School where he was active in the Blair Band and Choir. He was a member of the National Honor Society and belonged to FFA and 4-H.

He graduated from the University of Nebraska with distinction with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and served as treasurer of that group and Luther League. He received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award.

He served as an officer in the United States Air Force and was a member of the Herman American Legion. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and was a member of the Church Volley Ball team.

He married Deborah A. Pedersen and farmed a 245 acre farm near Herman. The couple received a special Conservation Award from the Papio Natural Resources District during the Papio N.R.D’s Annual Meeting which was held December 11. The award was given for their conservation efforts using terraces, diversions and waterways.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah, and two children, Amy and Ryan, all of Herman. His parents, Shurley and Janet Nelson of Herman; a grandmother, Mrs. Hannah Jensen of Blair; one brother, Mark B. Nelson of Herman and one sister, Jill K. Nelson, Herman, also survive him.

Clare Cowing was organist for the services.

Pallbearers were Lynn Sass, Lyle Schjodt, Jeff Jorgensen, James Mann, Larry Hansen, and Russell Christensen.

Arrangements for the services were under the direction of Campbell Funeral Home.

Another Article:

COUNCIL BLUFFS POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE NELSON DEATH Council Bluffs Police continue the investigation into the death of Kent Nelson which occurred Sunday morning about 1 a.m. at the home of his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pedersen of Council Bluffs. Nelson died at Jenny Edmundsen Hospital in Council Bluffs early Sunday morning. Council Bluffs Police Chief Ed Dinovo, when questioned by the Enterprise, Wednesday morning, said that the investigation is continuing at the present time and that they have no suspects at present. The death is being investigated “as a homicide,” Chief Dinovo said. Suicide has been eliminated as a possible cause of death. Chief Dinovo said that Nelson was shot with a shot gun. He declined comment on whether a weapon had been found at the scene and stated that he had, “no further comment on the case at the present time.” The Council Bluffs Department is waiting to receive information from the State on items which were sent in for analysis. “More information should be available after that information returns,” he said. Nelson and his two children, who had been to visit their mother in the hospital and had then returned with their grandparents to their home, were spending the night at the home, where the shooting occurred.

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