Mildred Irene Nelson

GALVA - Mildred Irene Nelson, 98, of Galva, died at 11:10 a.m., Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Courtyard Estates of Galva.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Galva with Pastor Katie Gallagher officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be at Galva Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Messiah Lutheran Church. Rux Funeral Home in Galva is assisting the family with arrangements.

She was born April 4, 1925 in London Mills, IL, the daughter of Otto and Gladys (Welch) Brashear. She was first married to Delbert Watkins in the Fall of 1942. He was killed in battle during WWII in 1944. She then married John A. Nelson on May 11, 1947 in Galva and he preceded her in death on July 18, 1988. She was also preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, three sisters and a child in infancy. She is survived by her children, Ted (Lynda) Nelson, Gregory (Juli) Nelson and John (Linda) Nelson Jr., all of LaFayette, Steven (Linda) Nelson of Galva, Richard (Shelley) Nelson of Dahinda, and Bonita (Ron) Nelson of Juneau, AK, eleven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Mildred had worked at Lily-Tulip Corp. in Galva and at Galesburg Research Hospital. She was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church where she had taught Sunday School. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and the American Legion Auxiliary. She also helped with a Hospice Foundation in Florida for many years. She enjoyed embroidery, reading, cross-word puzzles, and bowling; and in earlier years, she helped with the Cub and Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts. Mildred’s greatest joy in life was spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed spending the summers in Alaska with her daughter and family. For thirty years she spent her winters in Florida, and was especially surprised on her 90th birthday at a party attended by ninety family and friends.   

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