Nelson, Sharon J.

Sharon J. Nelson, 67, of Story City, formerly of Rowley, passed away Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, at the Israel Family Hospice House, Ames, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, Independence, with burial in the Rowley Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Reiff Funeral Home, Independence, and from 9 a.m. until services Monday at the church. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Sharon's memory is honored by her husband of 50 years, Roger L. Nelson of Story City; three children, Sandra (Tom) Hirschauer, Brett (Vicki) Nelson, all of West Des Moines, and Scott Nelson of Rowley; six grandchildren, Alec, Chase and Weston Hirschauer, Taylor and Kaitlyn Nelson, all of West Des Moines, and Paige Davis of Independence; her mother, Agnes Heronemu of Sheldon; four sisters, Shirley Marshall of Sioux City, Maretta Budden of Grandville, Malores Roozing of Littleton, Colo., and Nora Slykhuis of Custer, S.D.; a brother, Greg Van Sloten of Robins; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Henry Van Sloten Jr.

Sharon was born on June 4, 1942, in Rock Valley, Iowa, the daughter of John and Agnes (De Bruin) Van Sloten. She was a 1960 graduate of Rock Valley High School and attended Kankakee Community College. On Dec. 30, 1958, she married Roger L. Nelson in Belmond, Iowa. Roger managed West Side Implement and they farmed near Rowley, Iowa, where Sharon was an active member of the Rowley United Methodist Church. In 1986, the couple moved to Bourbonnais, Ill., and later to Paxton, Ill., where Roger was in the farm equipment business until moving to Story City in 1995, to be close to their young grandchildren.

While in Story City, Sharon was active in the Grace Methodist Church and the Story City Carousel Restoration Committee. She also became an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan. In 2001, the couple moved to Jamestown, N.D., managing a John Deere dealership for six years and returning to Story City, to semi-retire.

Her love of the farm would often bring her back to the Nelson homestead near Rowley, to help her son Scott plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. She enjoyed entertaining in her home, playing cards and traveling with her husband Roger. Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye and she loved attending as many of their activities as possible.

Memorials may be directed to the Nelson family to benefit a local hospice or cancer organization.

For more information or to leave an online condolenc,e please go to under obituaries.