Lester "Gus" Nelson, 85, of Blair died Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.
Nelson was born March 27, 1919, in Oakland to Gust W. and Julia Anderson Nelson. He grew up in Oakland and was a 1937 graduate of Oakland High School. He attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. He married Charis A. Axelson on June 1, 1947, in Oakland.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46, with overseas duty in Europe from 1944-45. In August 1946, he and his brother, Emery, started a men's clothing business in Blair called Nelson Bros. Clothiers, which they had for 38 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Blair.
He served as president of the Nebraska-Iowa Men's and Boy's Apparel Club, was commander of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Blair, and was a life member of both organizations. He also was Chef-de-Gare Passe of 40 & 8, Voiture 1018 of Fremont in 1968. He served as county veterans' service officer in Washington County for 12 years, from which he retired in 1991. In 1990, he was awarded the American Legion National Citation for Meritorious Service and received many district, state and national awards for Americanism and Membership citations.
His community service activities included the Blair Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the park board, president of the Blair Country Club, member of the Blair Rotary Club and Blair Eagles Club, and was an announcer for "Blair On-The-Air" of KHUB Radio Station. He loved Husker football and was a season ticket holder for 52 years.
He co-chaired the drive to raise funds to promote the bond issue for approval of the new addition to the Washington County Courthouse, which was successful. That addition now houses the new offices of the county clerk, county treasurer and county assessor. He was instrumental in the completion of the "Avenue of Flags" at the Blair Cemetery. Upon completion of that project, he initiated and led the project to line all the main cemetery driveways with additional flags. With the financial support of the Blair American Legion, VFW and Blair Cemetery, more than 85 flags are now flown on Memorial Day.
He spearheaded a fund drive for the completion of the monument and flag pole at Veterans' Memorial Field. Completion of that project was realized through individual contributions as well as from the American Legion. His hope was to memorialize and honor all deceased war veterans from the Washington County area by flying their casket flags as donated by their families.
Survivors include: his beloved wife, Charis; two sons, Randy (and wife, Debbie) of Kennard and Marshall (and wife, Lynda) of Blair; a daughter, Leslie (Mrs. Mark) Janky of Omaha; six grandchildren, Jason (and wife, Cindy), Katarina, Chase, Natalie, Zachary and Alexandra; a great-granddaughter, Marlee Marie; a brother, Merlin W. Nelson of Oakland; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Blair.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, G. Vincent and J. Emery, and a grandson, Brett Philip Nelson.
The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 17th and Colfax streets, in Blair. Due to cremation, no visitation is scheduled. Burial will be in Blair Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by members of VFW Post 1251 and American Legion Post 154 of Blair. The U.S. flag will be presented by Robert Oswald.
The family requests memorials to First United Methodist Church of Blair, Grace United Methodist Church of Kennard and Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.
Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Nelson was born March 27, 1919, in Oakland to Gust W. and Julia Anderson Nelson. He grew up in Oakland and was a 1937 graduate of Oakland High School. He attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. He married Charis A. Axelson on June 1, 1947, in Oakland.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46, with overseas duty in Europe from 1944-45. In August 1946, he and his brother, Emery, started a men's clothing business in Blair called Nelson Bros. Clothiers, which they had for 38 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Blair.
He served as president of the Nebraska-Iowa Men's and Boy's Apparel Club, was commander of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Blair, and was a life member of both organizations. He also was Chef-de-Gare Passe of 40 & 8, Voiture 1018 of Fremont in 1968. He served as county veterans' service officer in Washington County for 12 years, from which he retired in 1991. In 1990, he was awarded the American Legion National Citation for Meritorious Service and received many district, state and national awards for Americanism and Membership citations.
His community service activities included the Blair Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the park board, president of the Blair Country Club, member of the Blair Rotary Club and Blair Eagles Club, and was an announcer for "Blair On-The-Air" of KHUB Radio Station. He loved Husker football and was a season ticket holder for 52 years.
He co-chaired the drive to raise funds to promote the bond issue for approval of the new addition to the Washington County Courthouse, which was successful. That addition now houses the new offices of the county clerk, county treasurer and county assessor. He was instrumental in the completion of the "Avenue of Flags" at the Blair Cemetery. Upon completion of that project, he initiated and led the project to line all the main cemetery driveways with additional flags. With the financial support of the Blair American Legion, VFW and Blair Cemetery, more than 85 flags are now flown on Memorial Day.
He spearheaded a fund drive for the completion of the monument and flag pole at Veterans' Memorial Field. Completion of that project was realized through individual contributions as well as from the American Legion. His hope was to memorialize and honor all deceased war veterans from the Washington County area by flying their casket flags as donated by their families.
Survivors include: his beloved wife, Charis; two sons, Randy (and wife, Debbie) of Kennard and Marshall (and wife, Lynda) of Blair; a daughter, Leslie (Mrs. Mark) Janky of Omaha; six grandchildren, Jason (and wife, Cindy), Katarina, Chase, Natalie, Zachary and Alexandra; a great-granddaughter, Marlee Marie; a brother, Merlin W. Nelson of Oakland; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Blair.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, G. Vincent and J. Emery, and a grandson, Brett Philip Nelson.
The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 17th and Colfax streets, in Blair. Due to cremation, no visitation is scheduled. Burial will be in Blair Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by members of VFW Post 1251 and American Legion Post 154 of Blair. The U.S. flag will be presented by Robert Oswald.
The family requests memorials to First United Methodist Church of Blair, Grace United Methodist Church of Kennard and Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.
Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Lester "Gus" Nelson, 85, of Blair died Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.
Nelson was born March 27, 1919, in Oakland to Gust W. and Julia Anderson Nelson. He grew up in Oakland and was a 1937 graduate of Oakland High School. He attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. He married Charis A. Axelson on June 1, 1947, in Oakland.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46, with overseas duty in Europe from 1944-45. In August 1946, he and his brother, Emery, started a men's clothing business in Blair called Nelson Bros. Clothiers, which they had for 38 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Blair.
He served as president of the Nebraska-Iowa Men's and Boy's Apparel Club, was commander of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Blair, and was a life member of both organizations. He also was Chef-de-Gare Passe of 40 & 8, Voiture 1018 of Fremont in 1968. He served as county veterans' service officer in Washington County for 12 years, from which he retired in 1991. In 1990, he was awarded the American Legion National Citation for Meritorious Service and received many district, state and national awards for Americanism and Membership citations.
His community service activities included the Blair Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the park board, president of the Blair Country Club, member of the Blair Rotary Club and Blair Eagles Club, and was an announcer for "Blair On-The-Air" of KHUB Radio Station. He loved Husker football and was a season ticket holder for 52 years.
He co-chaired the drive to raise funds to promote the bond issue for approval of the new addition to the Washington County Courthouse, which was successful. That addition now houses the new offices of the county clerk, county treasurer and county assessor. He was instrumental in the completion of the "Avenue of Flags" at the Blair Cemetery. Upon completion of that project, he initiated and led the project to line all the main cemetery driveways with additional flags. With the financial support of the Blair American Legion, VFW and Blair Cemetery, more than 85 flags are now flown on Memorial Day.
He spearheaded a fund drive for the completion of the monument and flag pole at Veterans' Memorial Field. Completion of that project was realized through individual contributions as well as from the American Legion. His hope was to memorialize and honor all deceased war veterans from the Washington County area by flying their casket flags as donated by their families.
Survivors include: his beloved wife, Charis; two sons, Randy (and wife, Debbie) of Kennard and Marshall (and wife, Lynda) of Blair; a daughter, Leslie (Mrs. Mark) Janky of Omaha; six grandchildren, Jason (and wife, Cindy), Katarina, Chase, Natalie, Zachary and Alexandra; a great-granddaughter, Marlee Marie; a brother, Merlin W. Nelson of Oakland; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Blair.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, G. Vincent and J. Emery, and a grandson, Brett Philip Nelson.
The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 17th and Colfax streets, in Blair. Due to cremation, no visitation is scheduled. Burial will be in Blair Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by members of VFW Post 1251 and American Legion Post 154 of Blair. The U.S. flag will be presented by Robert Oswald.
The family requests memorials to First United Methodist Church of Blair, Grace United Methodist Church of Kennard and Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.
Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Nelson was born March 27, 1919, in Oakland to Gust W. and Julia Anderson Nelson. He grew up in Oakland and was a 1937 graduate of Oakland High School. He attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. He married Charis A. Axelson on June 1, 1947, in Oakland.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46, with overseas duty in Europe from 1944-45. In August 1946, he and his brother, Emery, started a men's clothing business in Blair called Nelson Bros. Clothiers, which they had for 38 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Blair.
He served as president of the Nebraska-Iowa Men's and Boy's Apparel Club, was commander of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Blair, and was a life member of both organizations. He also was Chef-de-Gare Passe of 40 & 8, Voiture 1018 of Fremont in 1968. He served as county veterans' service officer in Washington County for 12 years, from which he retired in 1991. In 1990, he was awarded the American Legion National Citation for Meritorious Service and received many district, state and national awards for Americanism and Membership citations.
His community service activities included the Blair Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the park board, president of the Blair Country Club, member of the Blair Rotary Club and Blair Eagles Club, and was an announcer for "Blair On-The-Air" of KHUB Radio Station. He loved Husker football and was a season ticket holder for 52 years.
He co-chaired the drive to raise funds to promote the bond issue for approval of the new addition to the Washington County Courthouse, which was successful. That addition now houses the new offices of the county clerk, county treasurer and county assessor. He was instrumental in the completion of the "Avenue of Flags" at the Blair Cemetery. Upon completion of that project, he initiated and led the project to line all the main cemetery driveways with additional flags. With the financial support of the Blair American Legion, VFW and Blair Cemetery, more than 85 flags are now flown on Memorial Day.
He spearheaded a fund drive for the completion of the monument and flag pole at Veterans' Memorial Field. Completion of that project was realized through individual contributions as well as from the American Legion. His hope was to memorialize and honor all deceased war veterans from the Washington County area by flying their casket flags as donated by their families.
Survivors include: his beloved wife, Charis; two sons, Randy (and wife, Debbie) of Kennard and Marshall (and wife, Lynda) of Blair; a daughter, Leslie (Mrs. Mark) Janky of Omaha; six grandchildren, Jason (and wife, Cindy), Katarina, Chase, Natalie, Zachary and Alexandra; a great-granddaughter, Marlee Marie; a brother, Merlin W. Nelson of Oakland; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Blair.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, G. Vincent and J. Emery, and a grandson, Brett Philip Nelson.
The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 17th and Colfax streets, in Blair. Due to cremation, no visitation is scheduled. Burial will be in Blair Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by members of VFW Post 1251 and American Legion Post 154 of Blair. The U.S. flag will be presented by Robert Oswald.
The family requests memorials to First United Methodist Church of Blair, Grace United Methodist Church of Kennard and Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.
Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
