Gordon "Gordy" W. Nelson

Gordon Wayne Nelson was born, in Rush City Minnesota on December 29, 1929 to Melba (Swanson) and Conrad Nelson. He is preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Eugene, and his grandson John Peterson. Gordon was the talk of Rush City when at the age of seventeen months he rode three miles into town on the running board of his father’s car without the knowledge of his parents. In 1935 Gordon’s family moved to Pine City where his father Connie and Uncle Victor had a grocery store next to Swanson’s Mortuary. In 1939 the family moved to the farm on the Henriette Road (Co.11) where they continued to live until 1987. Gordy attended Pine City Schools and graduated in 1947. As a young man, Gordy worked on neighboring farms and at the Coca Cola Bottling Co. in Pine City. In 1948 Gordy married his high school sweetheart Adeline Habrman. Gordy and Adeline spent their first few years living in Pine City while Gordy operated a Catepillar grader for Pine County. After twelve years at the county Gordy then went into the meat processing business with his father. During that time Gordy spent ten years on the Pine City School Board,was a long time member of the Pine City Lions, president of Minnesota Meat Association and the Pine City Citizen of the Year. After retiring, Gordy ran for Pine County Commissioner and held that office for eight years. While Gordon’s first priority was his family, he loved to snowmobile, 4-wheel, golf, and dance. On most weekends you could find Gordy and Adeline at Pine Camp! After a long hospice stay, Gordon passed away at his home on January 5, 2011. Gordon is survived by his wife Adeline, sons Robert (Wendy) of Vadnais Heights, Jim(Brenda) of Pine City, daughters Jane (Robert)Jones of Pine City, Carol Peterson of Florida, Lezlie (Dale) Nordquist of Roseville, and Julie (Dave) Cogger of East Bethel, grandchildren Amanda Wimmer, Nathan Jones, Bryar Nelson, Brendt Nelson, Tracy Babler, Nicole Majeres, Jessica Chapman, Ashley Berglund, Amy Nelson, Trisha Harakel, Megan Holtz, Travis Schwartz, Jessica Cogger, Kyle Cogger and great-grandchildren Paige and Alex Wimmer, Misha and Ella Jones, Deryk and Hannah Harakel, Taylor and Evan Chapman, Adeline Babler, Ellie Majeres, Tristen Schwartz, and Lily Cogger. A funeral service will be celebrated at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City, MN on Saturday, January 8 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Ron Boettner officiating. Visitation will be Friday evening from 4-7 p.m. and one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday at the church. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society.