Iola Mae Nelsen

Iola Mae Nelsen, the daughter of Edwin and Vivian Bowen Christensen, was born July 12, 1924, at her parents’ home in Exira, Iowa and died March 19, 2012, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 8 months and 7 days. Iola was baptized and confirmed at the Federated United Church of Christ in Exira. She attended Exira Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1941. Iola moved to Des Moines, Iowa and attended Beauty School. Iola operated a Beauty Shop in Exira for several years. She then was employed as a cook and waitress at the Exira Bowling Alley. On May 24, 1963, she married Willis Noble Nelsen at the Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa. They lived in Exira. Iola helped Willis operate the Fertilizer Plant in Brayton, Iowa. She also worked at the Bowling Alley and later at the gas station north of the Valley Truck Stop. Iola was a homemaker for many years. She enjoyed her home, and then moved to the Exira Care Center in June of 2011. Iola was a member of the Federated United Church of Christ in Exira. She enjoyed playing cards, especially Bridge and Pinochle and belonged to several card clubs. Preceding her in death were her daughter, Julie Michelle Weideman; her parents; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jackie Nelsen, Daniel and Nellie Nelsen; Sylvia and Herbert Rattenborg; and JoAnn and husband Claude Lasley. Survivors include her husband Willis Nelsen of Exira; her sons: Larry and wife Claudia Peppers of Creston, IA; Mark Peppers and friend Sharon Scott of Glenwood, IA; Kris Nelsen of Exira, IA; her son-in-law Mark Weideman of Atlantic, IA; her grandchildren: Jason and friend Laura Lundberg of Norwalk, IA; Justin and wife Silvia Peppers of Cheyenne, WY; Joshua Peppers of West Des Moines, IA; Regan Peppers of Glenwood, IA; Melissa Kloeckner of Hastings, IA; Christopher Nelsen of Maryville, MO; Matthew Madsen of Atlantic, IA. Amy Jo and husband Jerid Walker of Massena, IA; and Tyler Weideman of Atlantic, IA; her great-grandchildren: Tacy Peppers, Landon Peppers, Beowulf Peppers, Katana Peppers and Hayley Kloeckner; her brother Donovan and Jean Christensen of Eau Claire ,WI; her brother-in-law George Nelsen of Atlantic, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Sunday afternoon from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Nancy Jensen on Monday, March 26, 2012, at 10:30 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, IA.