Don W. Nelson

Don W. “Taxi” Nelson, 86, of Fertile, Iowa, died Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the I.O.O.F. Home, in Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Pastor Rob Perry officiating.  Burial was in Clear Lake Cemetery.

  Family suggests memorial contributions to Opportunity Village in Clear Lake or to the Fertile Church of Christ.

Don was born July 20, 1930, the son of Holden and Mary C. (Wilson) Nelson on the family farm in Kanawha, Iowa.  He married Clarice Evans on Dec. 30, 1954, in Mason City.  They later divorced in 1993.

A graduate of Clear Lake High School, Don was active in all sports.  He lettered three years in football, ran the mile relay with Ray Bieber, Tom Joslyn and Charlie Crane, and was on the Clear Lake Ski Team during the early 1950s.  During high school and the summer months, he worked at Clear Lake Bakery, before going to work for Great Lakes Pipeline in 1951.  He then worked at John Deere in Waterloo until 1971, when he began working for Winnebago in Forest City, Iowa, until 1986.  After that, he worked at Opportunity Village, where he retired from.

Don was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church while growing up, and later in life was a member of the Fertile Church of Christ.  He enjoyed fishing, golfing, which included a hole-in-one at Oak Hills Golf Course in Clear Lake in 2001, going to the YMCA in Forest City, and attending AA meetings since 1980.

Don is survived by a son, Steven (Cindy) Nelson, of Waterloo; seven grandchildren, Jeremy (Adella) Nelson, Steven (Sarah) Nelson, Jr., Daniel (Amber) Sturtz, Luke (Brandy) Linsey, Amanda (John) Niznik, Cody Marr, and Sarah (Travis) Bloom; 11 great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Julie Nelson, of Sheffield; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Cindy Lou Nelson; a son, Donny; and a brother, Alvin.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.