Sandra Kay Nelsen

Sandra Kay Nelsen, the daughter of George P. and Lois N. Wahlert Nelsen, was born February 1, 1947, in Carroll, Iowa and died February 27, 2009, at the Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 62 years and 26 days.
Sandra was baptized March 23, 1947 and confirmed May 26, 1961 at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. She attended rural school south of Exira and graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1965. Sandra graduated from the Patricia Stevens Finishing School in Omaha, NE with a degree in Fashion Merchandizing in 1968. In 1970 she graduated from the Nebraska Business College in Omaha, NE and later attended Creighton University. In 1969 she started working as a secretary for the Omaha Public Power District.
On September 25, 1974, she was united in marriage to Ronald D. Mathews at the Lutheran Church in Maryville, Missouri. She lived in Omaha and continued to work at OPPD. She later married John W. Hopp in Omaha, NE on November 22, 1983. Both husbands preceded her in death.
In 1999 Sandra retired from Omaha Public Power District as an executive assistant after working there for 30 years.
Sandra was a member of St. Lukes Evangelical Lutheran Church in Omaha and was a member of the Women of the ELCA at St. Lukes.
Sandra was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union No. 1483, a member of Toastmaster International, a member of the Omaha Jaycees, who honored her with the Bronze Key Man Award, and also belonged to the United Way of the Midland Committee at OPPD. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Sandra was a culinary artist and loved to cook. She liked to knit and garden. She also was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan.
Preceding her in death were her mother Lois N. Nelsen; her aunts and uncles: Daniel and wife Nellie Nelsen; Jackie Nelsen; Herbert Rattenborg; Claude Lasly; Howard Whittfield; Wynona and husband Art Andersen.
Survivors include her father George P. Nelsen of Atlantic, IA; her brother Michael and his wife Debbie Nelsen of Lathrop, MO; her nieces and nephews: Captain Andrew Nelsen of Killeen, TX; Ashley Nelsen of Monterey, CA; and Meridith Nelsen of Kansas City, MO; her aunts and uncle: Sylvia Rattenborg of Hamlin, IA; Joanne Lasly of Mission, TX; Willis and his wife Iola Nelsen of Exira, IA; other relatives and friends.

Memorials:
The family prefers memorials to the Hospice House, 7415 Cedar Street, Omaha, NE 68124 and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 8610 Brentwood Drive, #3, La Vista, NE 68128.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Monday evening at 6:00 at Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 10:00 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.