Nelson, Ellen 'Auntie Ellen'

Ellen “Auntie Ellen” Nelson, 95, of Lisbon, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, at Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon. The visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Lisbon United Methodist Church, followed by the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be at the Lisbon Cemetery. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Surviving Ellen are three children, Ramona (Tom) Rouse of Princeton, Mo., Judy Donald and David (Suzanne) Nelson, all of Cedar Rapids; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Ken Armstrong of Anamosa; many nieces and nephews; and two special grand-dogs, Murphy and Hawkeye.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Ted; son, Don; sister, Irene Ferguson; brothers, Carleton, Lee, Clyde and Harry; great-grandsons, Carl Jason (C.J.) Stromberg, Lucas Tangen and Bradley Flack; son-in-law, Dale Donald; and daughter-in-law, Karen Nelson.

Ellen was born July 26, 1916, in Euclid, Minn., the daughter of Charles and Alma Everhart Armstrong. She married Theodore “Ted” Nelson Jan. 25, 1934, in Dupree, S.D.; and the couple moved to Mechanicsville in 1936, and to Lisbon in 1942. Ellen worked at Iris' Insurance and Telephone, Wilson's Grocery and Gwen's Restaurant, all in Lisbon. She was a member of the Lisbon United Methodist Church, a past member of the UMW Quilting Circle and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Ellen enjoyed cake decorating, word search puzzles and quilting. Many will remember the quilts she made and gave as gifts. Ellen cherished each member of her family, nothing was more important to her.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Hallmark for the excellent and loving care she received.

Memorials in Ellen's honor may be sent to the Lisbon United Methodist Church, 200 E. Market, Lisbon, IA 52253.

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Published in The Gazette Oct. 12, 2011.