Lyle B Nelson

Lyle Byriel Nelson, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Sunday, February 4, 2024, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.

Lyle Byriel Nelson, son of Manvel and Lydia (Marcusen) Nelson, was born March 6, 1938, in Audubon, Iowa. He went to High School in Elk Horn, Iowa. Lyle joined the Army in 1956 and did six months of active duty. After that, he started truck driving while being active in the Army Reserve for six years.

On September 21, 1960, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Ann Sorensen at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They were blessed with four children: Marcia, Greg, Gale, and Karen. Lyle and Dorothy farmed near Hamlin for about five years. They finally settled in Elk Horn, Iowa, and Lyle went back to trucking. For a time, he had his own trucking business, hauling grain and livestock for many people. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton.

Lyle loved fishing and listening to polka music, but gardening was his passion. Every year, he had an immaculate vegetable garden, and he loved to share what he produced. He also enjoyed driving his classic John Deere tractor in several organized tractor rides. Lyle loved his dogs and spoiled them through the years with dog treats and homemade TV dinners. His grandkids and great-grandkids loved his malts, and he loved making them. Lyle spent a lot of his spare time tinkering with woodworking.

He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, Hans & Alice Sorensen; a brother, Dale Nelson and sister-in-law, Linda Nelson; a brother-in-law, Virgil Sorensen; and a son-in-law, Danny Funderberg.

Lyle is survived by his wife Dorothy, their four children, Marcia (Lawson) VanderVegte of Hockley, TX, Greg (Donna) Nelson of Harlan, IA, Gale (Laurie Kroger) Nelson of Canton, SD and Karen Funderberg of Kimballton, IA. 9 grandchildren: April (Daniel) Desroches, Amber (William) Joiner, Petrea (Jake) Carlson, Preston (Shelby) Nelson, Andrea (Cole) Lowary, Kelby Nelson, Keaton (Eliza Green) Nelson, Shawn (Lindsey) Pottebaum, Chelsie (Brian) Ginn. 18 Great-Grandchildren, two brothers Martin (Shirley) Nelson of Elk Horn, IA, Gary (Sherry) Nelson of San Marcos, TX, a sister Janis (Larry) Fajen of Elk Horn, IA: several nieces and nephews and many friends and extended family.


Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA.

The funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, with Pastor Steven Frock officiating the service. A luncheon will be held in the reception room at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home following the funeral.

Interment will take place following the luncheon at the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Lyle Nelson Family, to be designated to many of his favorite local organizations and charities, and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA.

Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, IA.