Suzanne M. “Meme” Nelson, 96, passed away on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at the Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook. “Meme” was born March 20, 1922 in Paris, France one of three children born to Henri and Louise Quignon. Shortly after World War II she married an American G.I. named Gilman Nelson in November of 1945. Gilman brought “Meme” to the United States on the ship President Tyler (Meme’s great-grandson was named Tyler because of his great-grandparents) and they lived Lake Preston, South Dakota from 1946 until 2002 when she moved to Watertown, South Dakota. She moved to Topeka in 2017. She was a wonderful cook, loved to read, sew, knit and was an excellent crossword puzzle solver. Mrs. Nelson was a seamstress by trade. She had lovely handwriting and a remarkable youthful spirit and inner strength. She left all her family to follow Gilman to America and then stayed in Lake Preston to raise her two girls after Gilman’s death in 1957.
Survivors include her two daughters, Pat Johnson and Jacquie (Jon) Nystrom, four grandchildren; Traci Paulson, Danny Nystrom, Chantel (Eddie) Blasche, Tamra (Casey) Simpson, eleven great-grandchildren; Ashley (Ben) Klatt, Colin Paulson, MacKenzie Dalley, Sheridan, Bryson and Pierson Blasche, Hannah Nystrom and Abby Sharp, Tatum, Carly and Tyler Simpson and four great-great grandchildren; Cayden, Carson, Carighan and Cambrie Klatt.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Pizza Parlor in Oakland at 6:00 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2018. The family will continue visiting with friends following Father Tim’s blessing. Memorial contributions may be sent to either Brookside Retirement Community or to Great Lake Caring Hospice. Contributions may be sent in care of Davidson Funeral Home, 1035 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka, Ks 66608. Meme’s family would like to give a special “THANK-YOU” to all the wonderful people of Brookside Retirement Community, Great Lake Caring Hospice and Father Tim for loving our Meme.
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