Shirley E. Nelson

Shirley E. Nelson went to be with the Lord she loves on November 24, 2015.Shirleys professional life was dedicated to teaching young children, especially those with learning disabilities, and her personal life exemplified unbridled hospitality to all whom God placed in her path.Shirley was born February 18, 1935 to George E. and Elsie (Roennfeldt) Jackson.She was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1953.She earned an Education Certificate from Parsons College, in Fairfield, Iowa in 1955, and married Jack nelson August 21 of that year.Shirley lived and taught in Clarence, Iowa for two years and as their family grew she and Jack moved to Tipton, then Washington, and then Decorah, all in Iowa.In Decorah, Shirley rekindled her love of teaching and graduated magna cum laude from Luther College in 1973, with her parents, her proud husband and three kids looking on.She went on to teach in the Decorah school system for 25 years, retiring in 1993.Shirley and Jack moved to Rochester, Minnesota, in 2001, and they celebrated 60 years of marriage in August 2015, surrounded by family and friends from across the country.Shirley was a faithful Methodist and was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Eyota, Minnesota.She was also a 21-year member of P.E.O. Shirley is survived by her husband, Jack; her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Joanne and Bruce Workman (Omaha, NE); her kids, Rick (K) of Longmont, CO; Pam (Bart Seebach), Canton, MN; and matt (Kay), Kasson, MN; as well as seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Shirley loved being with her grandchildren.The highlight of any family get-together was the meals she prepared for them and the books she read at bedtime.For many years she enjoyed being outdoors, walking with her husband and friends, and also participating in an aerobics group in Decorah.She was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents. Interment will be in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa, on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Charter House on Tuesday afternoon, December 1, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Memorial donations can be made to Ronald McDonald House (850 2nd Street SW in Rochester, MN55902) or P.E.O. Educational Fund, c/o Kathy Skold (403 West Main Street in Decorah, Iowa 52101)