Nelson, Harold

Harold Nelson, 94, of Hopkinton, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at the Jones Regional Medical Center, Anamosa, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at the Buck Creek Methodist Church with interment in the Buck Creek Cemetery. The Rev. Lorraine Hartman will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Hopkinton.

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Surviving are two children, Max (Dixie) Nelson of Garrison, Minn., and Janice (Harold) Johnson of North Bend, Ore.; eight grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great- grandchildren; a sister, Betty Olsen of Two Rivers, Wis.; a brother, Robert Nelson of Buffalo, Wyo.; and a half-sister, Pauline Girsch of New Hampton, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy in 2009; a grandson, Tab Nelson; a great-great-grandson, Matthew Wood; four sisters, Vera, Dorothy, Hazel and Anna Mae; a brother, Clifford; and a half-brother, Bill Bowers.

Harold John Nelson was born March 22, 1916, at Clermont, Iowa. He was the son of Oscar and Daisy Wooner Nelson. Harold received his education in the rural schools near his home. He then worked as a farm hand for his uncle Elliott, and later as a butter maker for him in Balltown. In 1937, he bought a team of horses and operated a cream route using the team and a wagon during the summer and a sled in the winter.

Harold Nelson and Dorothy Schadey were married Dec. 1, 1936, at Manchester, Iowa. The couple farmed near Luana and then in the Yellow Creek area, near Postville. They farmed for four years near Monona before purchasing their farm near Hopkinton in 1948. Harold also worked for Harlan Johnston at the hardware store in Hopkinton and did plumbing as well. He dehorned and castrated cattle and did fencing for area farmers. He also worked on the Don Webber farm. Dorothy retired in 1978 from her job and the couple then purchased a motor home and traveled all over the United States for several years. Harold was well know for his donkey, Smokey who visited school classes, care centers and other events, and his mules Number 1 and Number 2 that as a team pulled his wagon at area parades.