Gordon P. Nelson

FOREST CITY - Gordon P. Nelson age 94 of Forest City, died Friday, October 12, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Funeral service will be held at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at Winnebago Lutheran Church in rural Lake Mills with Pastor Bill Peters officiating.

Burial will be in the Winnebago Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark Street in Forest City and will continue an hour prior to service at the church.

Gordon Perry Nelson was born on May 16, 1918, the son of Ernest and Gena (Tweeten) Nelson. He was baptized at Bethel Lutheran Church, Mount Valley Township, Winnebago County and confirmed at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills. He attended rural elementary school and graduated from Forest City High School in 1936. He subsequently assisted his father on their farm until March 11, 1941 when he was inducted into the U.S. Army - the first draftee to be called from the Winnebago Church congregation.

Following several promotions, Gordon was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on March 25, 1943. He served with the 102nd Infantry Division in France, Holland, and Germany until the German surrender in 1945. He was released from active duty as a Captain on February 26, 1946.

Gordon then returned to farming with his father and brothers Kenton and Lester and at the same time attended Waldorf College for two semesters. In the fall of 1947 he enrolled at the University of Denver.

Gordon married Orla Holstad, daughter of Albert and Amanda Holstad at Elk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett, Iowa on September 3, 1948. They made their home in Denver. Gordon continued his studies at the University until graduation with a Bachelor's degree in physics. Orla worked in the office of Denver's Stapelton Airport.

Following the outbreak of the Korean War and while attending the University of Minnesota, Gordon was recalled into military service - this time with the U. S. Air Force. Subsequent duty locations were at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Los Angeles, and Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, California. In each of these assignments Gordon served as an engineer in the offices that managed the development of new aircraft and ballistic missiles. He earned a Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering in 1957 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel March 20, 1966.

Gordon retired from the Air Force on September 30, 1969 and the family moved to a farm near Joice, Iowa which they had previously purchased. He and sons Steven and Gregory operated the farm until 1982.

He had several jobs at Winnebago Church, Township Trustee and Assistant Soil Commissioner.

Highlights for the family were a three month trip touring Europe in 1972 in a small motorhome. Also, Hawaii in 1989.

Gordon is survived by sons, Steven Nelson of Lake Mills, and Gregory Nelson of Golden, Co.; Grandchildren, Eric (Amie) Nelson of Lenexa, Ks, Jennifer Nelson of Columbia, Mo., Derek Nelson of Golden, Co and Daniel Nelson of Ft. Collins, Co and great-granddaughter Scotlyn Nelson of Lenexa, Ks.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Orla, his parents, and two brothers Lester (Madge) Nelson and Kenton (Loretta) Nelson and daughter-in-law Rachel Nelson.