Marvin D. Nelson, 97, of Wayne, died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 at Providence Medical Center in Wayne.
Services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Wakefield. The church is located four miles north and three miles east of Wayne. The Rev. William Bertrand will officiate. Visitation will be Monday, Sept. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Burial with military rites will be in Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Wakefield.
Memorials may be directed to the Nelson family for later designation.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Marvin Dale Nelson was born in his family’s farmhouse near Meadow Grove and was baptized and confirmed at Buffalo Creek Church (rural Meadow Grove). After completing first – 10th grade at Mt. Hope, a two-room schoolhouse, he graduated from Meadow Grove High School in 1941 as the Salutatorian. After receiving a scholarship, he attended Midland College in Fremont for one year before his family moved to a farm northwest of Wayne. He then attended Wayne State College for a year.
Enlisting in the Naval Air Corps in 1943, Marvin trained in Iowa, Wyoming, California, Texas, and culminated his military career in Pensacola, Florida. Commissioned Ensign, he served as a flight instructor. One of the planes he flew was a twin-engine Beechcraft transport. He served for two and a half years. He once said, “what was really the hardest thing to do was to be flying along and do a spin and a barrel roll.” After his honorable discharge from the service, he worked at the Wayne Airport as an instructor.
On June 12, 1949 he married Bonnie Lessmann at Immanuel Lutheran Church Northeast of Wayne. They started farming south of Laurel that same year. The first corn crop was planted with a two row planter and the first oat crop was cut with a binder. Their livestock consisted of dairy cows, hogs, cattle, and poultry. In 1957, the family moved a few miles east where they continued farming. After retiring, he helped with combining soybeans and corn until he was 93. In 2018, Marvin was presented with the Lifetime Farm Achievement Award. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, playing pool with his friends at the Senior Center, and life on the farm with his family.
Marvin was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He taught Adult Bible Class, and held various positions in the church throughout the years. Some of the roles included Elder, Trustee, and Secretary. He was also a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Nelson, their children: Doug (Ginger), Debra (Dr. Gary Volentine- fiancé), and Don (Lisa); grandchildren: Amber, Taylor, and Geoffrey (Allison Lux), step-grandchildren: Kerri (Todd) Leach, Ryan (Sara) Husman, and step great-grandchildren: Kendra and Dylan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Anna (Wedekind) Nelson; two brothers; and five sisters.
Pallbearers will be Terry Lessmann, David Lessmann, Gerald Otte, Taylor Nelson, Geoff Nelson, Amber Nelson, Ryan Husman, Dylan Husman, LaVerle Johnson and John Meyer.
