William Nelson

William “Bill” Leonard Nelson, 80, of Clear Lake, died Friday, June 2, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dr. Pat Hall officiating.  Burial will be at Clear Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Gideons International (100 percent goes to bibles).

Bill was born Sept. 8, 1936, the son of Leonard Harold and Irene Amelia (Hodnefield) Nelson, in Eldora, Iowa.  He was united in marriage to Sharon Kay Van Helten on June 28, 1964, in Des Moines, Iowa, and they had three daughters.

A graduate of Renwick High School, he received an Associate’s Degree from Waldorf College, in Forest City, Iowa, a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and his master’s degree from the University of Missouri.  Bill was a United States Air Guard veteran, serving from 1959 to 1965.

Bill worked several years in psychiatric social work as a private practitioner, therapist, counselor, supervisor, and administrator.  Bill and Kay were the founders of Personal Development Institute.  Bill devoted his life to helping others.  He served as a Vietnam veteran counselor, worked with child welfare, and was a foster care supervisor and regional administrator with the Iowa State Department of Social Services and the Mental Health Center and Forest Park Psychiatry.

His community service included Meals on Wheels, the Admissions committee at Opportunity Village, a home for battered women, a consultant for unwed mothers and foster children, Sunday school superintendent and teacher, and consultant to a Crisis Center and the alumni board at Waldorf College.  As a devout Gideon Society member, Bill spoke at churches in Clear Lake and surrounding communities.

Bill enjoyed cutting wood, hearing and telling humorous stories; he founded the National Hall of Humor.  He loved flying, traveling, reading, and sailing.  He was also an accomplished musician, a talent that he passed to other family members.  He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.  He loved to talk about Jesus, and knew where his eternal home was.  Bill studied the Bible every year; his favorite verses were Romans 5:1-5.

Left to cherish his memory is Kay Nelson, Clear Lake; daughters, Kathleen (Steve) Gauthier, Louisville, Neb., Shawna (David) Jones, Raleigh, N.C., Jennifer (Gregg) Galbraith, Chadron, Neb.; and seven grandchildren, Emma, Samuel, and Zachary Gauthier, Savannah and Sterling Jones, and Kayley and Caden Galbraith.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements. Testimonials to Bill may be posted at ColonialChapels.com