Norman M. Nelson

FOREST CITY - Norman M. Nelson, age 76 of Forest City, died Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.



Funeral service will be Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 1:30 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Barb Spaulding officiating. Burial will be at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery in Vinje, Iowa with graveside military rites by Forest City American Legion Post 121.



Visitation will be held at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark St Forest City IA on Friday, April 24th from 5 to 8 PM and continuing at the the church one hour prior to service.



Norman was born November 4, 1932, in Forest Township to Nickolai and Andrea Nelson. He graduated from Forest City High School. Norman served in the Armed Forces of the United States from 1953 to 1955.





Norman married Ione Rosalyn Johnson at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje, Iowa on March 31, 1956. He worked for Sorenson Roofing, Sahr Produce, and the City of Forest City where he was a lineman for 25 years.





Norman was also a fireman in Forest City for 20 years, a member of the American Legion, and was an assistant Boy Scout leader for several years.





Norman was known for his infectious laugh and was always smiling. He had a great work ethic which he passed on to his children. Norman loved his children, grandchildren, and great-granchildren very much, and enjoyed spending summers with them at Bluff Valley Campground in Zumbro Falls, Minnesota, in addition to their annual trips to Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa. Norman could always be found with his Caseyís coffee cup in one hand, while working on some type of wood project for his family with the other.





Norman is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Ione, who he was married to for 53 years. He is also survived by four children, Stephen (Julie) Nelson of Burlington, WI, Randy (Vicki) Nelson of Paynesville, MN, Brenda (Bruce) Emmerth of Elkhorn, WI, and Annette (Mick) Stone of Mazomanie, WI; ten grandchildren, Corrie (Clint), Amy (Jeff), Spencer (Shanna), Nicholas, Tausha, Leiah, Kirsty, Zachary, Tucker, and Andrea; and two great-grandchildren, Grace and Isabella with another on the way.





Norman is also survived by one brother, Lars (Joan) Nelson, of Alexandria, MN, and one sister-in-law, Gloria Langfald, of Scarville, IA, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews who he also adored.





He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant daughter, Lori Ann Nelson.