Arlene Doris Nelson

Arlene Doris Nelson, the daughter of Alfred M. and Mabel Elvera (Christensen) Petersen, was born May 18, 1931, at her parents’ home in Douglas Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died October 24, 2016, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 85 years, 5 months, and 6 days.
Arlene was baptized and confirmed as an adult at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended rural school “Spring Valley” in Douglas Township Audubon County then helped on the family farm and neighboring families. Arlene then was employed at the soda fountain in Norguard’s Drug Store in Harlan, Iowa. Later she worked as a waitress at the Harmony Café in Harlan.
On February 18, 1950 she was united in marriage to Gordon Nelson. Five children were born to this union. Arlene was employed as a clerk at Della’s Hobby Shop on main street Audubon for many years. She then was the bookkeeper and office manager for Gordon’s Repair Shop and later Nelson’s Auto Service when their son John joined the business where she worked until she retired. Arlene enjoyed her home then moved to Colorado and lived with her son Jerry for a few years, then moved to Texas and lived with her daughter Janie for a short time before moving to the Friendship Home in Audubon in August of 2008.
Arlene was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. She was active in the Sunday school and Bible School. She was a Troop leader for Blue Bird and Camp Fire Girls and a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. Arlene loved to crochet and made Afghans which are cherished by the many relatives and friends who received them. She loved collecting Barbie Dolls, Precious Moments, Cabbage Patch Kids, Hallmark Ornaments, and character watches, especially Mickey Mouse. Arlene enjoyed riding on the back of their Honda Gold Wing as they toured around the country. But she was most passionate about her family, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, brothers and sisters.
Preceding her in death were her children Johnie Gage Nelson, infant son Dickie James Nelson, and infant daughter LuAnn Sue Nelson; her parents; her sister Norma and husband Don Miller; her brothers Levi Petersen, Virgil Petersen, Ken Petersen; and her niece Teri Dee Petersen.
Survivors include her daughter Janie (Nelson) Huffman Valdez and husband Greg Valdez of San Antonio, Texas; her son Jerry Jay Nelson and wife Julie of Niceville, Florida; her daughter-in-law Teresa Nelson McLaughlin and husband Mark of Audubon, Iowa; her nine grandchildren Aaron, Shantel, Justin, Robbie, Lindsey, Brooke, Brittany, Jordyn, and Haley; 16 great grandchildren; her sister Lillie Huey and her brothers Allen and wife Diane Petersen and Larry and wife Diana Petersen all of Audubon, Iowa; sisters-in-law Pat Esbeck of Atlantic, Iowa, Delores Petersen of Audubon, Iowa, and Nancy Munch of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
To honor Arlene’s wishes, she was cremated and the family will have a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at a later date.