Home from Equador

Cpl. Nels Nelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Nelson of near Blair, arrived May 31 for a few days’ visit with relatives and friends. He has just completed 38 years in Panama and Equador – two years in Panama, and one in the latter location. He will leave June 25 for Sam Houston, Tex., to receive assignment.

Cpl. Nelson has a brother, Ted, who is stationed with the army in Italy.

#2-Enterprise 12 April 1945

(Photo)

Corp. Nels Nelsen Loses Life In Air Battle

Met Death While Leading His Squadron In Battle In Germany

Corporal Nels Nelsen son of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Nelsen of near Orum, met his death on March 19, 1945, while leading his squadron in battle in southwest Germany.

Funeral services were held by a Protestant Chaplain and the body was laid to rest in an American cemetery in northeastern France.

Had he lived until May 31st, Cpl. Nelsen would have been twenty-six years of age. He was a young man of sterling qualities and native of this county. He had spent three and one-half years in the service. He was home last Christmas on a leave of only two and one-half days and was immediately returned to his overseas duties. Shortly before his death, he was visited by a brother, Theodore, also in service, and this was the last visit they were privileged to enjoy.

He was one of a family of seven, there being four brothers and three sisters. Besides the grief-stricken parents, there brothers, Raymond, of Bremerton, Washington; Theodore J. in the service in France; and Vernon in Byers, Colorado; and three sisters, Mrs. Josephine Romero of Leadville, Colorado; Mrs. Irene Defoe of Denver, Colorado; and Mrs. J. F. Pileggi of San Diego, California, survive and mourn deeply their great loss.

Cpl. Nelsen gave his life for the cause of freedom. He did his part. May we be as faithful to that great cause and maintain that freedom so sacred to mankind.

#3-Pilot Tribune 5 April 1945

Nels Nelsen Killed in France

Blair Man Served In Panama, South America, Before Going To Europe

Cprl. Nels Nelsen, about 26, was killed in action in Western France on March 19, according to official word received early this week by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Nelsen of west of Blair.

In the service for four years, Cpl. Nelsen was stationed in Panama and South American with the Coast Guard, over a long period of time. He was transferred to the infantry and returned to the States for training last fall, and had been overseas in the European theater since December.

Cpl. Nelsen was with the Seventh Army. He and his brother, Cpl. Ted Nelsen, also with the Seventh Army in France, enjoyed a three-day pass together shortly before Nels was killed. It is believed that Ted has not yet learned of his brother’s death.

Surviving Cpl. Nelsen, who was unmarried, are his parents; three brothers, Ted in France, Raymond in Oregon, and Vernon in Denver; and two sisters, Mrs. Josephine Ramero of Leadville, Colo., Mrs. Virginia Peffer in California, and Irene Nelsen of Denver.

#4-Enterprise 3 May 1945

Memorial services will be held this Sunday, May 6th, at the First Lutheran Church for Cpl. Nels Nelsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Nelsen, who was killed in action, somewhere over Germany, Marcy 19th. The service will begin at 2:30 p.m.

#5-Pilot Tribune 3 May 1945

Plan Memorial Rites For Sunday

Memorial services, honoring Sgt. Nels Nelsen who was killed in action, will be held at 2:30, Sunday afternoon, May 6, at the First Lutheran church. The Rev. H. C. Jorgensen is to take charge.

Sgt. Nelsen, who died in France, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Nelsen of the Blair vicinity.

#6-Pilot Tribune 23 Dec 1948

Return Body of Sgt. Nelsen

War Hero’s Remains Being Brought Home Soon For Reburial Rites

The body of Sgt. Nels M. Nelsen, son of Mrs. Hanna Nelsen of Orum, is being returned from Europe for reburial here.

Sgt. Nelsen met his death in Germany in March, 1945, while with the American army in World War II action.

His father, Nels Nelsen, Sr., died in June, 1945.

Surviving the youth are his mother; three sisters, Mrs. Josephine Romero and Mrs. Irene Hiduk, both of Leadville, Colo., and Mrs. Virginia Pilleggi of San Diego; and three brothers, Raymond of Denver, Theodore of Blair and Vernon of Keensburg, Colo.

#7-3 Feb., 1949 - The Enterprise - Sgt. Nels Nelsen - Veteran of World War II

RITES SUNDAY FOR SGT. NELS NELSEN

The remains of Sgt. Nels Nelsen, who was killed in action in Southwestern Germany on March 19, 1945, were brought to Blair this week and the body will be laid to rest in the family burial plot. It was the wish of the father, Nels Nelson, Sr., who passed away a couple of years ago, that this might be done. The brief memorial service will be held in First Lutheran church on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 6, at 2 o’clock. A more formal memorial service was held May 6, 1945.

Nels Nelsen was born on May 31, 1919, on a farm west of Blair, the son of Nels Nelsen and Hannah nee Jensen. In childhood he was baptized in the First Lutheran Church. He received his education in the March school west of Blair. After his school days he was engaged in farm work until he was inducted into the service of the United States Army Mar. 27, 1941.

The first couple years of his service were spent in Panama and South America, but he was transferred to the European theater early in 1945 where he was killed while leading his squad into action. The body was laid to rest in an American cemetery in northwestern France.

Sgt. Nelsen is survived by his mother, Mrs. Hannah Jensen, who lives on a farm west of Blair with her son, Theodore. In addition to these relatives he is survived by two other brothers, Raymond of Bremerton, Washington and Vernon of Keenesburg, Colo., also by three sisters, Mrs. Josephine Romero of Leadville, Colorado, Mrs. Irene Defore of Denver, Colo., and Mrs. Virginia Pileggi of San Diego, Calif.

The services for Sgt. Nelsen will be conducted by Rev. H. C. Jorgensen of the First Lutheran Church, and the Bendorf Mortuary will be in charge of the funeral arrangements. Albert Hansen, Jr., Ernest Jensen, Clifford Jensen, Lester Wulf, Bud Miller and Marion Miller will be the pallbearers.

Note: Buried in Blair Cemetery, Blk 65 Lot 14 Gr 12; born 31 May 1918; died 19 Mar 1945; buried 6 Feb 1949; Find a Grave # 113556731. With 157TH INFANTRY, US ARMY, WWII

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