State Senator, Arlene (Gregg) Nelson, 92 of Grand Island, died Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society-Grand Island Village.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church. Reverend Kelly Karges will officiate. Cremation will take place following the service. Burial of ashes will take place in the Cedar View Cemetery near Doniphan along with her husband, Milford at 2 p.m. on Monday. All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Mrs. Nelson was born in rural Doniphan, NE to Leroy and Leona (Cox) Gregg on July 15, 1925. She attended rural school, graduating from Trumbull High School in 1942. On December 8, 1946 she was united in marriage to Milford Nelson of Cambridge, NE at the Doniphan Methodist Church.
During her younger years she helped her father farming and custom work for other farmers.
During WWII, Arlene worked in the tool and die machine shop at Morton Aircraft in Omaha. The company later moved their manufacturing business to another location. Arlene remained in Omaha and worked as a sales and office manager. She later returned to Grand Island where she worked for Twin Rivers Egg Company serving as bookkeeper and office manager for many years.
After the death of her father, Leroy Gregg, Arlene and Milford moved to the farm in 1956. Milford also continued his employment as a railroad conductor. They resided on the farm until 1982, when they built their home in Grand Island.
Arlene was employed by the Hall County ASC office until she campaigned for the State Legislature where she served as State Senator for district 35 from 1984 to 1992. During this time, she served in judiciary, education, and retirement committees as Chairperson. Other opportunities included a district representative for AARP, and the American Cancer Society. Arlene was active in Nebraska Farmers Union where she served as Nebraska representative at national conventions.
She is survived by her daughter, Donna (Patric) Wright of Denver, Colorado; son, Dennis Nelson of Doniphan; grandson, Ryan (Kayla) Nelson; granddaughter, Nichole Nelson and step grandson, David Rosso all of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Arlene is preceded in death by her husband, Milford Nelson in January 2009; her parents Leona and Leroy Gregg and sisters, Margaret Hardekopf and Meredith White.