Marion W. Nelsen

May 11, 1917--Dec. 20, 2010

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Marion W. Nelsen, 93, died Dec. 20, 2010.

He was born May 11,1917, to Peter C. and Anna Elsie (Rossen) Nelsen on a farm north of Curtis. As a small child the family moved to a farm south of Curtis where he attended country school and then graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis in 1937.

In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was sent overseas in February of 1942. He was stationed in the South Pacific on Christmas Island, New Heberdies and Guadalcanal. He returned to the states June of 1944 and was stationed at Victorville Air Base in California. He was later honorably discharged at Fort Leavenworth in 1945.

He married Wanda Fratti on Oct. 20, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan. They returned to Curtis in 1947 and moved to a farm south of Curtis, living there for 16 years.

The family moved north of Curtis in 1963 and lived there until 1990 when The couple retired and moved to North Platte, Nebraska after 43 years of farming.

He was a life-time member of the American Legion and served on the school board of the Curtis Elementary School.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda; his parents; his brothers and their spouses, Leroy and Velma Nelsen and Kenneth and Dolly Nelsen; sisters and their spouses, Margaret and Marvin Schmid and Doris and Gerald Awtry; and nephew, Dennis Awtry.

Survivors include his son, Jim Nelsen and wife, Marilyn of Marion of Iowa; daughter, Diane Pollmann and husband, Larry of McCook, Nebraska; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are Friday, Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m., at the Congregational United Church of Christ with the Rev. Clark Bates officiating. Interment will follow in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska.

Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 13, 1-7 p.m., with family present 5-7 p.m., at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Curtis.

Friends and family may sign the online guest book at www.blasestrauser.com.

Memorials may be made to the Marion Nelsen family, 38692 Drive 718, McCook, NE 69001.