Leslie E. Nelson

Leslie E. “Les” Nelson, 91, of Clear Lake, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Oct.19, at Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church in Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kent Wagner officiating.  Burial was at Brush Point Cemetery, in Fertile.

  Family suggests memorial contributions to the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church.

Les was born on July 29, 1927, the son of Selmer Nicholi and Hazel Doris (Nelson) Nelson, in Northwood.  He married Ruth Ivene Elthon on May 8, 1949, in Fertile.  She preceded him in death on Aug. 2, 2009.

Les grew up on his father’s farm in Northwood, where he helped his father using horses to plant and harvest crops.  In his teens, he assisted his father on many building projects.  He and his sister, Avis, attended country school and graduated from Northwood High School.  In 1945, along with some of his high school friends, Les enlisted in the United States Navy and served during World War II.

Upon his return from the service, at the age of 19, he built his first house by himself, which began his early house building career.  Two of his homes were featured in “Better Homes and Gardens,” with one ending up on the front cover.  He expanded his construction company into building schools, churches, nursing homes, swimming pools and other various types of commercial buildings.  The Medical Arts Building, in Mason City, was his first large professional building.

In 1964, Les and his partner, Hadley Florer, built Willowbrook Shopping Center, which was the first enclosed mall between Des Moines and Minneapolis.  He went on to build many more shopping centers along with free standing retail and office buildings in the upper Midwest.

Les always enjoyed spending time with his family, celebrating the Fourth of July in Clear Lake, flying his planes, fishing and ocean cruises.

Les is survived by three children, J.D. (Debbie) Nelson, of Clear Lake, Robert Nelson, of Clear Lake, and Ann (Tom) Weitzel, of Estes Park, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Sara (Andy) Briggs, Andrew (Jill) Nelson, Aaron (Mia) Nelson, Erika (Robert) Baber, Lindsey (Jesse) Gunther, Breanna (Aaron) Thom, Jason Weitzel and Chelsea (Elisha) Hinton; 20 great-grandchildren; a sister, Avis (Bob) Savre, of Minneapolis, Minn.; and a special friend, Joyce Anderson, of Austin, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ivene; and a great-grandson, Joseph.

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