Virgil L Nelsen Obituary (1931

In Loving Memory Of Virgil L. Nelsen A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 24, 2014 at the Friend United Methodist Church with Rev. Paixao Baptista officiating. Interment will be in Andrew Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1-9pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend with the family receiving relatives and friends from 2-5 pm. Memorials have been established to the United Methodist Church, the Friend Volunteer Fire Department, or to the Friend Recreation Association for improvements at the baseball park. Virgil Lawson Nelsen, was born July 13, 1931 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Riis Lawson and Effie Pearl (Foreman) Nelsen and joined his wife Bonnie and the Lord in Heaven on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 83 years 4 months and 7 days. As a young boy, he attended country school northeast of Friend and graduated from Friend Public School with the class of 1949. He was drafted into the US Army in 1952 and served overseas in Germany during the Korean Conflict. Returning to Friend from service in January of 1954, Virgil was united in marriage to Bonnie Lee Ziegler, his high school sweetheart, at the Methodist Church in Friend on February 7, 1954. To this union four children, Randall, Richard, Ryan and Risa were born. A life-long resident of the Friend area, Virgil began a career in the grain handling industry at Friend Grain in 1954, leaving to join the Farmers Cooperative in Cordova in 1989 and retired in 1994. For many years he especially enjoyed following his life-time passion for farming by working for various area farmers as time was available. He and Bonnie enjoyed going to country music festivals. Virgil's family was very special and he made every effort to follow his grandchildren's activities and spend special time with them. Virgil knew no strangers, only friends he had not met yet. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease anyone and everyone. Virgil was an active and very faithful member of the Friend United Methodist Church where he recently served as a member of the Fire Restoration Committee. He also served several years on the trustees. Virgil served on the City Council and Cemetery Board, was a member of the Friend Volunteer Fire Department and American Legion Ford-Banka Post #183. He is survived by his children and spouses, Randall "Randy" and Katherine Nelsen, Richard "Rick" and Sonya Nelsen, Ryan and Anita Nelsen, all of Lincoln area, Risa and Dale Zimmerman, Omaha, 13 grandchildren and spouses, Allison and David Graham, Stahlhofen Germany, Michelle and Jared Burham, Lincoln, Aaron Nelsen, Utica, New York, Leighanne Nelsen, Lincoln, Alexandrea and Jake Johnson, Lincoln, Courtney and John Anderson, Kearney, Mackenzie and Nathan Palatsky, Devils Lake, ND, Brianna Nelsen, Lincoln and fiance, Travis Bankson, Hastings, Kaleigh and Tyler, both of Lincoln, Lauren, Matthew, and Michael Zimmerman, all of Omaha, great-granddaughter, Theresa Graham, Stahlhofen Germany, brother, Dwayne Nelsen, Friend, sister-in-law, Shirley Ziegler, Omaha, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bonnie in 2008, brothers, Melvin, Jim, sisters, Fern Flannigan, Louelma Ferguson, Ardis Noeller, brothers-in-law, Ronald Ziegler, Earl Ferguson, sister-in-law Jerri Nelsen