Charlotte Nelson, 94, Albert Lea

Published 9:22 am Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Charlotte Nelson

Celebration of life service for Charlotte E. Nelson, 94, of Albert Lea (formerly of Clarks Grove) will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate.

Charlotte passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at St. John’s Lutheran Home.

Charlotte Emma Nelson was born on Feb. 5, 1918, in Pickerel Lake Township, the daughter of William and Ella Mae (Kuehl) Schmidt. She attended school at Hopkins (District 55) and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1936. Charlotte was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea and was there united in marriage to Phillip J. Nelson on June 25, 1940. They lived and worked together raising their family on their farm south of Clarks Grove. Charlotte was an active member of the Clarks Grove Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday and Bible school. She worked at Lea College for five years, and after moving off the farm to Knutson Place, she contributed many hours of volunteer work, knitting caps for babies at Naeve Hospital, and greeting visitors at the welcome desk for St. John’s Lutheran Home. She resided at St. John’s Lutheran Home for the past four years and was very appreciative of the facility and the excellent care she received from the staff.

As a farm wife, Charlotte enjoyed helping with field work, caring for the animals, gardening and canning the produce. She loved to cook and bake and entertain family and friends. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting and many other crafts. She was an expert seamstress, designing and sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters. She also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Many trips were taken with Phil in their private airplane. In retirement, they spent the winters at their home in Mesa, Ariz., enjoying many rounds of golf. She was especially fond and proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them.

Survivors include her children Sharon Kay (Robert) Gruninger of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Jane (Richard) Satre of Rochester; Charles (Patty) Nelson of Mulege, Baja California, Mexico; and Howard (Mary) Nelson of Lakeville; grandchildren Caroline (Neal) Hudders, Suzanne (Doug) Mortenson, Jeff (Becky) Satre, Susan (Marty) Michael, Bryan (Sharmi) Nelson, and Kelly Nelson; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Althea Schmidt of Albert Lea, Dorothy Kaasa of North Mankato, and Marilyn Nelson of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Phillip, her sister Lucille Ladwig, and her brothers Donald and Marvin Schmidt.

Charlotte will be remembered as a sweet, caring person who was honest, gracious, polite and grateful. She will be remembered for her love of nature and for being a good steward of God’s land. She will be remembered for her healthy lifestyle and for the example she set and the encouragement she gave to live a good, long life.

The family prefers memorials be given to St John’s Lutheran Home, Freeborn County Historical Society Foundation, or to the donor’s choice. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.