Lois Marie Nelson

Lois Marie Nelson, the daughter of George and Susannah (Heckman) Schlater, was born April 26, 1924, at her parents’ home in rural Audubon County east of Exira, Iowa and died November 4, 2017, at her home at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 93 years, 6 months, and 8 days.

Lois was baptized as an adult at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. She attended rural schools east of Exira then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1942. Lois received her teaching certificate and taught rural school.

On May 19, 1943, she was united in marriage to Donavon Dale Nelson. Donavon was in the Army at the time they were married so they moved to San Luis Obispo, California where he was stationed. When Donavon was shipped overseas, Lois returned to Exira. Donavon was wounded in the Philippines and Lois moved to Missouri until he recovered after being discharged. When Donavon was discharged he returned to Exira and they operated his family farm west of Exira. Three children Paulette, Russell, and Peggy were born during this time. They grew row crops and raised livestock until 1973. They moved to Atlantic and Lois was employed as a clerk at Bower’s Bakery. She also owned her own business where she did professional alterations, sewed custom-made draperies, and made mints. Donavon died December 9, 2003. She moved to assisted living at Heritage House in the spring of 2017.

Lois was a member of the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa and a member of the neighborhood Busy Bee club. She enjoyed gardening, playing pinochle, and doing crossword puzzles. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband Donavon D. Nelson; her parents; son-in-law Eugene Cambridge; brothers: Grover and wife Allene (Sis) Schlater, Marvin (Toot) and wife Doris Schlater, Richard and wife Norma Schlater, Lorene and husband Leslie Vorm; an infant sister; brothers-in-law: Norman Meyer and Richard Nelson.

Survivors include her children: Paulette Cambridge of Atlantic, Iowa, Russell and wife Kristi Nelson, Peggy and husband Ed Mikolajczyk all of Omaha, Nebraska; her grandchildren: Staci and husband Eric Wendt of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brent Cambridge of Waukee, Iowa, Eric and wife Lauren Nelson, Brian Nelson, Mark Nelson all of Omaha, Nebraska, Adam Nelson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kimberly Canada of Walnut, Iowa, Daniel and wife Misty Mikolajczyk of Yelm, Washington, Tamara and husband Steven Johnston of Omaha, Nebraska; 11 great grandchildren, her sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Mildred Meyer of Exira, Iowa, Maxine Nelson of Carroll, Iowa, and Robert D. Nelson of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Thursday, November 9, 2017, at 11:00 A.M. at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. The family will meet with friends on Thursday morning 10:00 A.M. until time of the service at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton. Open visitation will be held Wednesday, November 8, 2017, from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira. A private family interment will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery west of Exira, Iowa. Casket bearers will be Staci Wendt, Brent Cambridge, Eric Nelson, Brian Nelson, Mark Nelson, Adam Nelson, Kimberly Canada, Daniel Mikolajczyk, Tamara Johnston, Brady Canada and Isabella Canada.