George W. Nelson

Funeral Services for George W. Nelson will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend David Sites and Darrel Wissmann, PMA, officiating. Interment will be in the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

George William Nelson, 80 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. George was born May 15, 1926 on the family farm east of Loomis in Phelps County, the youngest son of George W. Nelson Sr. and Marguerite (Slater) Nelson. He received his education at Loomis, graduating from Loomis High School with the class of 1944. During his high school career he enjoyed playing basketball at the state tournament. Following his education, George engaged in farming east of Loomis.

On June 9, 1946 he was united in marriage to Mary Lou Meyer at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska and to this union two daughters were born: Cheryl and Terri. The family made their home on the farm east of Loomis, where George was raised and he continued his lifelong love of farming. In 1980 the couple moved into their new home in Holdrege. George was later employed by Agri CO-OP in Loomis until his retirement in January of 2007. George and Mary Lou celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary with their family in the summer of 2006.

George was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, where he served on the church council and also active with the L.L.L. Couple's Fellowship Group. In his earlier years, George farmed with horses and his love of horses continued throughout his life as a member of the Bertrand Saddle Club and member the Hitch-N-Git Draft Horse Club. George was an avid sports fan and enjoyed playing baseball/softball in his earlier years and loved following the Loomis sports and Husker Football and Volleyball.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Mary Lou of Holdrege; two daughters: Cheryl Baker of Grand Island, Nebraska and Terri Lovitt and her husband, Kim of rural Loomis; four grandchildren: Cami Heaps and her husband, Jason of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Stacia Dennis and her husband, Monty of Loomis, Brandon Traudt and his wife, Christy of Grand Island and Ryan Lovitt of Loomis; seven great-grandchildren: Ashton, Alli and Andrew Dennis, Alec and Aden Lovitt and Isaac and Tia Traudt; one sister, Dollie Kohut of Holdrege; one brother, Byron Nelson and his wife, Lois of Holdrege; brother-in-law, Darrel Meyer and his wife, Betty of Bertrand; two sisters-in-law: Janice Bachman and her husband, Stuart of Bertrand and Charlene Kelly and her husband, Bob of Omaha, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Darci Lovitt; two sisters: Marguerite Nelson in her childhood and Merle Dillon; five brothers: Reuben, Ray, Roy and Bernard Nelson and Norbert Noonan.

Mr. Nelson will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.