White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

Jesup – Donald Allen Nelson, 80 years old, of rural Waterloo, IA, died Friday, February 9, 2018, at his home after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. – Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at Barclay United Presbyterian Church, rural Waterloo, IA, with Rev. Larry Fuson officiating. Burial will be at the New Barclay Cemetery in rural Dunkerton, IA. Military rites will be conducted by Pump-Sheer American Legion Post 342 of Jesup.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 13^th at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, and for an hour before services Wednesday at the church.  Memorials may be directed to Mercy Ship of Africa and Cedar Valley Hospice.

Donald was born February 26, 1937, in Ashton, SD, the son of Lyle Harry Nelson and Mary Elizabeth (Thiel) Nelson. He graduated Valedictorian from Ashton High School in 1955 where he was active in basketball and baseball.

Donald enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1956 and was stationed in California, Missouri, and South Dakota. Don was an air traffic controller while stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD. It was during his time in the Air Force that he met Rosalie Jean Brown of Jesup, IA. She was a medical technician at the Lutheran Hospital in Hot Spring, SD. It was love at first sight and they were united in marriage on August 11, 1958.

After Don’s discharge the couple moved back to rural Waterloo and settled on her parents’ family farm. Don worked in Waterloo, IA, at International Harvester as a diesel mechanic for 27 years and then at Rydell Chevrolet for 14 years. After retiring in 2000, Don helped his father – in – law on the farm and spent time traveling and raising horses with his family. The family would ride in local celebrations during the summer and even traveled to Don’s hometown, Ashton, SD, to ride in the town’s 125^th Anniversary Celebration. Don was active in the Black Hawk County Horse and Pony Project; he was a member of the Teamsters Union; and was active in Boy Scouts. He liked to hunt and was especially proud of his trips to Alaska. Don was a member of Barclay United Presbyterian Church where he served as trustee and volunteered a lot of his time and talents.

Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rosalie of Waterloo, IA; one son, Greg (Cyndi) Nelson of Waterloo, IA; one daughter, Melinda (fiancé Craig Robinson) Hayzlett of Independence, IA; three grandchildren, Christopher (Amanda) Hayzlett, Nicole Hayzlett, and Ayla Nelson; two step-grandchildren, Scott (Justine) Peters and Jenil Peters; one great grandson, Bentley Nelson – Rettig; one step-great granddaughter, Keilei Reyes; and one sister, Sandra (Gene) Zoodsma of Ashton, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two children in infancy, Douglas Lyle Nelson and JeanAnn Nelson; also one brother-in-law, Ronald Brown.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA is in charge of arrangements.