Verlen O. Nelson

Funeral Services for Verlen O. Nelson will be conducted from the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Jeff Ernstmeyer and Mr. Wayne Carlson, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, Nebraska with military honors provided by the Bertrand Veterans Organization in conjunction with the Army National Guard Military Honors Detail.

Verlen Oscar Nelson, 89 years of age, of Holdrege (formerly of Bertrand) passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. Verlen was born July 7, 1919, north of Bertrand on the family farm in Phelps County, Nebraska, the second of four children of Harry and Victoria (Peterson) Nelson. The pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand baptized Verlen at home on August 16, 1919. Verlen was confirmed on June 4, 1933 at the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church north of Holdrege. He received his education at Holdrege, graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1937. Verlen then pursued higher education at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

He was united in marriage to Audrey Cort of Atlanta, Nebraska on December 23, 1942 at Columbia, South Carolina and to this union three children were born: Gary, Carol and Mark. Verlen served his country in the United States Army during WW II. He was inducted on February 11, 1942, serving two years in Iran and being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on October 27, 1945.

Following his service, Verlen returned home to Holdrege. In 1949, the couple engaged in farming north of Bertrand. After his career in farming, Verlen and Audrey moved into Bertrand and Verlen became employed by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District for the next nineteen years. He retired in July of 1982 as a superintendent with the Irrigation District.

On September 19, 1975 his wife, Audrey, preceded him in death. He became a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church at a confirmation service on July 11, 1976. On October 1, 1976 he was united in marriage to Ruby (Holscher) Esslinger at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They continued to make their home in Bertrand. Ruby preceded Verlen in death on June 6, 1996. In 2003, Verlen moved to Holdrege and began making his home at the Christian Homes Care Community, where he resided until his passing.

Verlen was a member of the American Legion and V.F.W. in Bertrand, served on the Phelps County Veterans Committee and was past chairman of the Bertrand Senior Center for three years. He also served on the Bertrand Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department for 47 years.

He leaves to mourn his passing his two sons: Gary Nelson and his wife, Sherri of Hastings, Nebraska and Mark Nelson and his wife, Julie of Lincoln, Nebraska; one daughter, Carol Johnston of Bertrand; three step-children: Shirley Reinker and her husband, Skip of Grand Blanc, Michigan, Galen Esslinger and his wife, Cheryl of Arlington, Texas, and Sheri Kurkowski and her husband, Clayton of Normal, Illinois; 19 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Harry Nelson of Independence, Kansas; sister-in-law, Elaine Weber and her husband, Kenneth of Kearney; brother-in-law, Alfred Holscher and his wife, Detta of Smithfield, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his two wives, Verlen was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters: one in infancy and, Ann Laverne Nelson at the age of seven.

Verlen will lie in state at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand on Monday, December 8, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

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

The Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.