David E. Nelson

Dave Emery Nelson, age 80, of Spirit Lake, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at Countryside Estates in Cherokee, Iowa. He was born on August 11, 1931, in Lake Mills, Iowa, to Nels Johannes Nelson and Ida Josephine Holland. Dave graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1949, and St. Louis College of Mortuary Science. He was united in marriage to Muriel Burgess on June 10, 1951, in Storm Lake. Dave and Muriel owned and operated Hughes-Nelson Funeral Home in Storm Lake, before retiring in 1990, and moving to Spirit Lake. Dave was a member of the United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Abu Bekr Shrine, Buena Vista County Special Deputies, Storm Lake Chamber Past President, Kiwanis, Red Barn Board Member and President, Iowa Funeral Directors Association and was the first tuba player in the Storm Lake Hy-Noon Kiwanis Famous Zauer Kraut Band. He enjoyed spending his spare time in his shop at home, riding his bicycle, especially on RAGBRAI, attending Big Band, listening to all music, especially polka and spending time with his family! Dave is survived by his wife, Muriel Nelson of Spirit Lake; a daughter, Nancy DeMeyer, her husband, Mike, of Olney, Illinois; three sons, Steve Nelson, his wife Belinda, of Overland Park, Kansas, Jon Nelson, his wife Joyce, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Jim Nelson, and his wife Sue, of Cherokee; one brother, Richard Nelson, his wife Imelda, of Spicer, Minnesota, brother in law, Roger Burgess, his wife Donah, of Nashville, Tennessee, brother in law, Joe Kuriger of Sierra Vista, Arizona, sister in law, Sharon Nelson, of Hampton, grandchildren; Erin Nemenoff, Michael DeMeyer, Nathan DeMeyer, Krissy Nelson, Karla Nelson, Katie Nelson, McKenzie Nelson, Matt Nelson, Kara Nelson, step grandchild; Matt Griswold, Sara Price, great-grandchild; Rachel Nemenoff, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Dorothy Kuriger, and brother Neal Nelson. A funeral service will be held at 1:00PM Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held Friday from 5:00P.M. until 8:00P.M. at the Schuchert Funeral Home. Burial will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery. Schuchert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

David E. Nelson

August 11, 1931 - April 18, 2012