Don R. Nelsen

Funeral services for Don Nelsen of Clarion have been moved FROM St. Olaf Lutheran Church, west of Belmond TO Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2015.

Don Nelsen, 79, of Clarion passed away Friday, January 2, 2015 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services for Don Nelsen will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 1:00 PM at St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond with Pastor James Harbaugh officiating. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held Monday, January 5, 2015 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday.

Donavon Ray Nelsen was born May 25, 1935 to John and Alma (Thompson) Nelsen at Holmes, Iowa.  Don attended Dayton School #4, and later attended and graduated from Clarion High School with the class of 1953.

Following graduation, Don enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 5th Field Artillery Unit until his honorable discharge in 1956.  He was stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, Fort Riley, Kansas and at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin, as well as having served overseas in Germany.

Don was united in marriage to Joann Sebert at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in June of 1958.  To this union, children Craig and Jackie were born.

Don worked for United Hagie Seed, Palco and later for Hagie Manufacturing, where he was plant manager at their Stronghold plant in Clarion.  He retired in June of 1999.

Don enjoyed playing golf, vegetable gardening and woodworking.  He specialized in making wind vanes featuring the mascots of the various Iowa colleges.

Don was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the Clarion American Legion post.  He will be remembered for being a loving, honest, and faith-filled husband, father and grandfather.

Don is survived by his wife Joann of Clarion; son Craig Nelsen and his wife Denise of Webster City; granddaughter Danielle Westergard and her husband Lawton and their soon-to-be-born daughter of Terril, Iowa, granddaughter Katherine Nelsen of Waterloo, and grandson Ryan Schlesky and his son Cameron of Ames; brother John Nelsen and his wife Bev of Goldfield, and sister Janice Soma of Eagle Grove; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Jackie Schlesky, grandson Bryan Schlesky, brother Roger Nelson, sister-in-law Doris Nelson and brother-in-law Tony Andersen.