GARNER - Joann L. Nelson, 67, of Garner, died Thursday (January 29, 2009) at Concord Care Center in Garner surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Garner with Rev. David Wagner officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Friday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner.

Joann Louise Nelson, the daughter of Delbert John and Hazel Louise (Harrison) Arndt, was born June 23, 1941 in Iowa City. The family lived in Mason City where Joann graduated from high school in 1959. On December 16, 1961, she was married to Curtis Gene Nelson at Albert Lea, MN. They made their home in Garner until 1974, when they moved to the family farm east of town. She worked at E.F. Johnson's, Gilley's Bar, Pronto, Erickson's Pharmacy, and the Garner & Ventura Town Mart. Most people knew Joann as "Gerti," a nickname given to her by Curtis. She enjoyed traveling to Arizona with Curt, seeing her grandchildren, Friday lunches with her Mom and sisters, raising peacocks, guineas, geese, ducks and chickens, buying lottery tickets and going to the casinos. She attended the United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her children, Kim (Lorie) Nelson of Garner, Traci (Michael) Klesel of Garner and Krystal (Chuck) Irelan of North Liberty; seven grandchildren, Travis, Trever and Taylor Nelson, Colter and Nathan Klesel and Britany and Shaun Irelan; her mother, Hazel Arndt of Mason City; and seven siblings, Shirley (Duane) Ballhagen of Rockwell, Bonnie (Bill) Dodge of Rock Falls, Sharon Dixon of Sheffield, Sally (Joe) Herrera of Mason City, Sue (Bob) Schissel of Rockwell, Delbert "Butch" (Cindy) Arndt of Mason City and Carolyn (Cal) Weck of Rhinelander, WI.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Nelson, August 14, 2008; her father; two brothers-in-law, Merle "Sonny" Dixon and Gary Schissel; and a nephew, Will Ballhagen.
... Read More