Obituary for Richard Henry Nelson

Richard Henry Nelson, son of Henry and Riffie (Sargent) Nelson, was born January 25, 1926, on a farm near Kirkman, Iowa. He attended grade school in Kirkman for his first three and a half years. The family then moved to a farm in Clay Township in 1935, where he completed grade school at Clay #3. Dick graduated from Elk Horn High School with the Class of 1943 and later from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines.

Dick was baptized and confirmed at Elk Horn Lutheran Church, where he later served as a board member and treasurer.

On January 30, 1949, Dick was united in marriage to Norma Lange at Elk Horn Lutheran Church. To this union, three children were born: Ned, Julie, and Natalie, and he was proud to see them all graduate from Iowa State University.

Dick worked as a dairy farmer, office clerk, bookkeeper, and auditor for the Iowa State Tax Commission. He was also a longtime volunteer at the Danish Immigrant Museum (now known as the Museum of Danish America). The Nelsons were honored to serve as King and Queen of the 1999 Tivoli Fest. Always up for a laugh and a little friendly competition, Dick proudly reigned three years in a row as the beloved “Best Costume” champion at the Lange family Christmas celebrations; a title he wore with great joy and even greater flair.

Dick and Norma enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States, from border to border and coast to coast. They also traveled to Norway, Denmark, England, and Scotland. Among the many highlights of Dick’s life were trips to Wrigley Field and attending a Johnny Cash concert.

Dick passed away on February 7, 2026, at Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Norma, and his daughter Julie. He is survived by his son Ned, daughter Natalie, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three Godchildren.

During the final six years of his life, he lived with his daughter, Natalie, in Cedar Rapids, where he continued to embrace adventure through road trips and outings that included zip-lining, pedaling along the Boone Scenic Railway, and riding Duck Boats on the Wisconsin River. He spent the last month of his life vacationing at a beach house in North Carolina with Natalie, Ned, and close friends Paul, Tina, and Aimee Anderson. There, he was able to start his mornings watching dolphins in the ocean and end his days with family dinners and movie nights, an experience that brought him great joy.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, February 17th, at 10:30 at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church Cemetery with a luncheon to follow in the church basement.