Teresa Leigh Kardell

Teresa Leigh (Nelsen) Kardell, daughter of Donald and Dorothy (Andersen) Nelsen, was born February 23, 1964, in Audubon, Iowa and passed on December 25, 2017, surrounded by her family in her home in rural Avoca, Iowa at the age of 53 years, 10 months and 2 days.
Teresa was baptized at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. While she was still young, the family moved to Avoca, Iowa. She was confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. Teresa attended the Avo-Ha Community School, and graduated with the High School Class of 1982. She then studied at Northwest Missouri State University.
Teresa was employed in the family business of operating convenience stores for her father in Griswold, Beebetown and Avoca for many years. She also worked for a short time at Midstates Bank in Avoca. For the past few years, she has been employed at the AHSTW Community School District. However, Teresa’s most treasured job was being able to be a stay at home mom with her three beautiful children, who considered her the “Best Mom Ever”. She also had the privilege of babysitting Ashtyn and Christian, her niece and nephew.
Teresa was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. She participated in Luther League as a young member, worked at the Abelskiver Supper yearly, and was a Lutheran Youth Organization Leader when her children were growing up. She was also a member of the P.E.O. Chapter G.C. of Avoca. As a very involved mother, Teresa loved to attend her children’s school activities, dance and sing to Cher, spend time with her family, and golf with her closest friends. Teresa was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, and loved to help with the annual Paul Freeman Ride.
Preceding her in death were her grandparents; Emmert and Margaret (Herron) Nelsen, Samuel and Elvira (Kristensen); her special cousin, Jordan Leigh Nelsen, and many other aunts, uncles and cousins.
Her survivors include her fiancé, Jim Sievers of Avoca, IA; her children Derek (Monica) Kardell, Hamlin, IA; Erika (Chris) Van Cleave, Atlantic, IA; Courtney (Tyler Robinson) Kardell, Avoca, IA; her grandchildren: Maddix (11) and Peyton (6 months). Other family members include her mother and father, Don and Dorothy Nelsen, Avoca, IA; siblings Nick Nelsen; Andrea (Kerry) Danker,all of Avoca, IA; James (Jen) Nelsen, Adel, IA. Her nieces and nephews include: Lynnsey Hargens, Hunter Nelsen, Christian and Ashtyn Danker, and Bodhi and Makai Nelsen; and many other family members and friends.
The family will meet with family and friends Tuesday, January 2, 2018, beginning at 4:00 P.M at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. The funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Eric Meissner on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. at the AHSTW School. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon at 3:00 P.M. The honorary casket bearers will be Marlene Nelsen, Connie Von Eschen, Joy Krohn, Lesley Krummel and Ashtyn Danker. The casket bearers will be Frank Nelsen, Don Von Eschen, Dean Krohn, Mike Krummel, Hunter Nelsen and Christian Danker.
The family prefers memorials to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca or to AHSTW School.