Elmer Edward Nelson

NELSON, ELMER EDWARD, age 90 of Rochester passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 16, 2010 surrounded by his family. Elmer was born July 10, 1920 on the Canadian border in Wales ND. to Berhard T. Nelson and Hulda (nee, Kuball) Nelson Romberg. He was the middle of eight children. The family moved to Rochester in 1936. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1940. In 1942 he married Delores Marie Langseth on November 21, 1942 at the Wilshire Wedding Chapel in Los Angeles CA. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents Benhard T. Nelson, Hulda Nelson Romberg, step-father Fred Romberg, a sister Glorine, brothers Victor, Roy, Lloyd, Don, a son Larry Edward, granddaughter Lysandra Nelson, daughter-in-law Lucile Nelson, and his wife of almost 60 years Delores Marie who died March 22, 2002. Elmer was a veteran of World War II, 465th Weapons Battalion, 94th Infantry Division of Patton's Third Army. He is a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge. In 2004, the 60th anniversary of landing at Normandy, his son Dale took him back to Europe to retrace his steps in the war. In May 2009, Elmer was a member of the Rochester Honor Flight to Washington, DC to see the war memorials with Dale as his chaperone. After the war Elmer returned to Rochester and worked for the Minnesota Highway Department and then as a surveyor for Ken McGhie Engineering. He was a mail carrier for the Rochester Post Office. Elmer and Delores owned and operated Rochester Blue Printing Co. and Nelson's Leech Lake Landing. He worked for Rochester Public Utilities, retiring in 1984 with 25 years of service. Elmer was an avid sportsman, enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating and an occasional great cigar. Elmer was a skilled craftsman in wood and metal with many other interests. Elmer could fix anything. He was a life time member NRA, and Rochester Sportsman Club. To all who knew Elmer, he was fun loving, had a wonderful sense of humor, a loving husband and father. He taught his children the joy of the great outdoors. Elmer also had many wonderful river friends from years of camping and boating on the Mississippi River. His was a life well lived. He is survived by a son Dale (Ann), Lake City, MN, and a daughter Carol Nelson Teske, Washington,IL. Grandchildren Christopher (Suzanne Spiegelberg) Teske, San Mateo, CA, Laura (Jason) Bowers, Morton, IL, Laetitia Nelson, Lake City, MN. Great grandchildren Sydnie, James and Sienna Bowers, and many loving nieces and nephews. He is also survived by one sister Winifred "Dolly" Pedersen, Seattle, WA and one brother Gordon Nelson, Fargo, ND. A special caring friend Bonnie Czaplewski of Rochester and Elmer's extended family through Bonnie, Bill (Susan), Jenna, Adam and Adrienne Czaplewski of Winter Park, FL, Brenda (LeRoy), Allyson, Bridget and Brittney Kanz of Rochester, MN, Lynn (John) Maggard of Nelson, MO, and John (Shannon), Christopher, Julia and Nicholas Czaplewski of Winona, MN. Our special thanks to the very professional and caring staff of Seasons Hospice. Memorials may be made to Seasons Hospice. A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 27 at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home, Rochester. MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Luncheon to immediately follow the service with interment at Grandview Memorial Gardens.