E. Irene Nelson was born August 1, 1917, near Lyons, Nebraska, to Albert and Josephine (Anderson) Peterson. She passed away Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Oakland Heights in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 93 years.

Irene grew up near Rosalie, Nebraska. She attended Twyford Country School and graduated from Rosalie High School in 1934.  She later became very involved with the Rosalie Alumni Banquet and never missed a year until her health was failing.

On April 10, 1937, Irene was married to Kenneth Nelson in Sioux City, Iowa.  To this union five daughters and one son were born.  They farmed south of Rosalie for forty years.  In 1977, they retired and moved to Lyons.  They enjoyed their retirement golfing, traveling, gardening and their Nebraska football season tickets. 

Irene was very active the Rosalie United Methodist Church, where she was a member for nearly 76 years. She was a Sunday School teacher, served as Sunday School Superintendant and sang in the choir for many years.   She was also a member and officer of Valley View Extension Club.

Irene was a very accomplished seamstress, sewing many dresses for her daughters, including some wedding and bridesmaid dresses.  After moving to Lyons she enjoyed painting, and won several awards.

Her husband, Kenneth passed away November 12, 1989.  Irene continued to be active and played in her card club, as well as Happy Days kitchen band for years. She loved music.  Some people say she always had a smile on her face and was an inspiration to her children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Harold, Leslie, Lawrence, Kenneth and an infant son.

Survivors include her five daughters, Judy (Robert) Jackson of Cedar Rapids, IA, Connie (Chuck) Kai of Omaha, Susie (Gary) Hodsdon, of Lexington, SC, Teresa (Jim) Vetter of Lincoln, Pam (Doug) Stansberry of Lyons, and son, Ken (Julie) Nelson of Kearney;  sisters-in-law, Lois (Jerome) Anderson of Oakland, Phyllis (Dallas) Anderson of Lyons, Alta Hlazka of Columbia, SC.; many nieces and nephews. She was a loving grandmother to fifteen, and great-grandmother to twenty-five.

She will be missed.  Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves us memories no one can steal.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Rosalie, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Wednesday, March 9, from 4 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons. Visitation will be held Thursday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery, Lyons, Nebraska

MEMORIALS: United Methodist Church in Rosalie, Nebraska.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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