Ramon Arthur Nelson

Ramon Arthur Nelson, 86, of Rochester, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, at Mayo Clinic Hospital-St Mary's. Ramon was born Nov. 4, 1927, in Rochester. He was the eldest son of Einar and Violet (Zabel) Nelson. He was a strong man and helped his parents on their turkey farm where he grew up. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1945. Following his graduation, he worked at the Rochester Country Club, watering the greens and later worked for Montgomery Ward. In his spare time he loved to play pool and enjoyed horseback riding. From 1950 until 1962, he worked as an assembler in shipping at Rath Packing Plant in Waterloo, Iowa. Following his employment there in 1962, he became a custodial engineer at Rochester Public Schools, including John Marshall High School, Harriet Bishop, Burr Oak, Golden Hill and Longfellow Elementary Schools until 1990. On July 13, 1952, he married Iva Kramer in Kasson, Minnesota. Ramon and Iva traveled to all of the states in the union. The couple took care of an adult foster daughter, Ilene Kath, for 30 years. Ramon and Iva loved to travel and had many wonderful trips. Iva died on Jan. 23, 1992. Ramon's passion for travel continued on and his adventures took him on destination cruises as well as tours to Russia, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, France, England, China and the Mediterranean. After he met his special friend, Lucille Becker, she joined him on these adventures. Ramon very much enjoyed the people he met on his trips; he could joke and talk with anyone, and he never met a person he didn't like. Besides traveling, he enjoyed dining out, seeing plays and spending time with his family. Everyone in his family has many happy memories of times spent with him and appreciated him as a loving, gracious, and generous dad, grandpa, uncle and brother. Ramon was also an animal lover. Due to his declining health, Ramon resided at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield for the past six months. Ramon is survived by his step-children, Jerry (Sharon) Kramer of Rochester, Sharon Jasnoch of Northfield, Jackie Phiefer of Rochester and Steve (Teena) Kramer of Yuma, Arizona; ten grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Ruby (Jerry) Lange of Rochester and three brothers, Conrad, Paul (Bobbie) and Irvin Nelson, all of Rochester and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Iva; his grandson, Jeff Jasnoch; his parents and two sisters, Marjorie Archer and Violet Mae (who died in infancy); his sons-in-law, Bob Phiefer and Gene Jasnoch, his foster daughter, Ilene Kath; special friend, Lucille Becker; and sister-in-law, Mary Nelson. Funeral services will be held at 11a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Christ Lutheran Church in Rochester. Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.