Aaron D.S. Nelson

Aaron D. S. Nelson, 91, passed away at Community Hospital on July 30, 2013. Aaron, a native of Albert Lea, MN was the beloved husband of Muriel M. Nelson who preceded him in death on May 15, 2013. He is survived by daughter Karen (James) Anderson, sons Kurt (Karen) of LaGrange, IL, Mark (Karen) and John (Carla) of Highland, IN. He was also preceded in death by daughter Deanna Morgan. He was a proud grandpa to grandchildren Alicia, Darren, Matthew, Paul, Christopher, Eric, Lisa, Jennifer, Julie and Valorie, and great-grandpa to eight great grandchildren. He is also survived by brother Paul Nelson of Iron Mountain, MI, and sisters Phyllis Haaland of Duluth, MN, Helene Westrum of Albert Lea, MN and Carol Olsen of Chinook, WA, and preceded in death by brother David Nelson of Martinez, CA. Aaron was a very successful man in life; he grew up very poor on a farm in rural southern Minnesota and he graduated with a degree in chemistry from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where he also sang in the choir and met the love of his life, Muriel. They married June 15, 1946 and moved to the Calumet Region where he joined Standard Oil of Indiana in Whiting, IN. He worked in the crude oil assay laboratory where he took great pride in his work and retired after 42 years of service in January 1989. Along the way, he and Muriel raised and helped provide college-funding for all 5 of his children because he believed so strongly in a good education. Aaron and Muriel were instrumental in the development of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, where he wrote letters and canvassed the Griffith-Highland area on behalf of the United Lutheran Church in America to develop a congregation. They later moved to Griffith Lutheran Church where he served on the Board of Elders, visited shut-ins, served as a mentor to youths and sang in the choir. He had a strong faith in God and Jesus and loved serving his church. Aaron dearly loved his family. He was very proud of Muriel and all of his children and took an active interest in their successes and the successes of his grandchildren as well. He was always there for them – watching their plays, concerts, sporting events, everything. When they needed him he was there for them. It is true when they say that anyone can be a father but it takes more to be a Dad, and he took it to heart. When he wasn’t busy with church or family obligations, you’d find him busy working on his cars, his house and his flower, fruit and vegetable gardens. Aaron and Muriel loved to travel across the United States and Europe, and made frequent trips to their home on Lake Mary in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.