Kenneth R. Nelson Obit

KENNETH R. NELSON, 87, of Bay Lake and Edina, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center due to COVID-19.
He was born on June 2, 1933 to Gayle (Richardson) Nelson and Oscar F. Nelson in Dodgeville, WI.  He has two brothers and two sisters and enjoyed growing up in a small town.
He graduated from Macalester College with a BS degree in Business.  He began his career as a buyer at Dayton's and continued with several business endeavors over 55 years, including owning The Frances Shoppe and J. Taskers in Brainerd.  He was an avid volunteer, actively involved in several service organizations including; the YMCA, Masons, Jaycees, Lions and Unlimited Learning as well as involved in committee work at church.
Boating, fishing, golfing and camping were some of the ways he spent his free time. Also, he and Janet enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and several other destinations. He especially loved spending time with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.  
He is survived by his wife, Janet J. Nelson, of 64 years. They met on orientation day at Macalester College and spent nearly 70 years creating their life together.   He is survived also by their three children: Catherine Nelson-Messer, (Robert); Steven Nelson, (Elizabeth); and Margaret Tollefson, (Stephen); nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and one sister, Dorothy Lundberg.
A memorial gathering is tentatively planned for the summer of 2021.  Memorials may be made in name to the Macalester Fund at www. macalester.edu, click on Support Mac.  To leave a message of condolence please go to www.koopfuneralhome.com .