Mearl Nelson, 78, Ah-Gwah-Ching, formerly of Hills, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, in Ah-Gwah-Ching.A memorial service was Saturday, Jan. 24, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar. Burial will be at a later date. His remains have been donated for medical study to Mayo Clinic. Mearl Emlin Nelson was born to Nels J. and Ida Rebecca (Moe) Nelson, Hills, on Dec. 5, 1925. His family moved to Kandiyohi County in 1932. He graduated from Willmar High School in 1943. He farmed with his brother, Reuben, until entering the Army Transportation Corps, serving in Korea during 1951-52. He worked for Allstate Feeds and as assistant manager for Supersweet Feeds. He married LeeAnn Goos on July 8, 1956. He retired in 1970 due to health. From 1978, he was in several nursing care facilities. Mr. Nelson served on the school board of District #780. He also served on the Resident Advisory Council of the Minnesota Veterans Home, Minneapolis, and most recently, at Ah-Gwah-Ching Care Center near Walker. He was a member of American Legion Post #167. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Survivors include his wife, LeeAnn Nelson; two daughters, Dayna (Jack) Winter, Huron, S.D., and Dara Nelson, Walberberg, Germany; two grandchildren, Anna and Jay Winter; one sister, Anne (Carl) Kunnari, Brimson; one sister-in-law, Harriet Nelson, Willmar; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Albert, Rueben and Vernon Nelson, and four sisters, Selma Nelson, Clara (Walter) Cogelow, Evelyn (Ludwig) Loven, and Ingeborg (Gerhard) Tollefson.
