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Shirley Nelson
SHIRLEY E. NELSON
Rochester, Minn.
Shirley E. Nelson went to be with the Lord she loved on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015.
Shirley's 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 Feb. 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 on Aug. 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, Minn., 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, Minn. She was also a 21-year member of PEO.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Jack; her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Joanne and Bruce Workman of Omaha, Neb.; her kids, Rick (K) of Longmont, Colo., Pam (Bart Seebach) of Canton, Minn., and Matt (Kay) of Kasson, Minn.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents.
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.
Interment will be in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 2 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Charter House, Rochester, Minn., on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Ronald McDonald House, 850 Second St. SW, Rochester, MN 55902, or PEO Educational Fund, c/o Kathy Skold, 403 W. Main St., Decorah, IA 52101.
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