Jack Everette Nelson

1927 - 2026

Jack Everette Nelson was born on October 29, 1927 in La Crosse, WI to Everette and Josphine (Williams) Nelson and raised in Brownsville, MN. He graduated from Caledonia Public High School in 1945. After graduation Jack went to work on the Mississippi River before enlisting in the Navy, serving as an engineer on whaleboats in the Marshall Islands and then to the aircraft carrier Shangri-la. After Jack's return home, he returned to work on the river and re-connected with former classmate, Margaret Wiegrefe. They married on October 9, 1948, at St. Luke's Evangelical and Reformed Church in Eitzen, MN.

Jack quit his job on the river to work at the Trane Company as a spot welder before renting a farm to have dairy cattle and horses. In 1958, Jack left farming to return to work on the river. His job was to put barges together, hauling grain, gasoline, fuel oil, corn, wheat, and barley, sailing the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio Rivers. In 1960, he returned to farming, buying a farm outside of Caledonia, raising beef cattle and horses while continuing to work on the river. In 1970, Jack ended his river days to farm fulltime and started looking for more farmland to expand his beef herd. He and Margaret got into the car, driving around Minnesota, looking for farmland. They found it in northwestern Minnesota in Middle River, moving there in 1971. Jack sold the farm and in 2010, and returned to Caledonia, MN. After selling their home in 2021, he moved into Claddagh Senior Living where he lived the remainder of his life.

Jack is survived by his daughter-in-law, Gail (Albee) of Caledonia; children, Mae Bubbers of La Crescent, MN, Haze (Mike) Fisch of Middleton, WI, Lois (Tom) Wang of Thief River Falls, MN, Mark Nelson of Peyton, CO, Rose (Randy) Nelson of Vienna, VA, Tammy (Mark) Nelson of Minnetonka, MN, Donna Nelson of Fredericksburg, VA, Carol Nelson of Prescott, AZ, and Kathy (Terry) Henrich of Coon Rapids, MN;13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 77 years Margaret; his parents, Everette and Josphine Nelson; brother, Keith and wife, Helen Nelson; sister, Nadine and husband, LaVern Privet; his in-laws, Herman and Evelyn Wiegrefe, Leonard and Lillie Wiegrefe, Marie and Neil Comstock, and Lester and Charlotte Wiegrefe; son-in-law, Charlie Bubbers; son, Eric Nelson; and infant son, Arlo.

Jack died on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the age of 98.

Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Caledonia United Methodist Church. Pastor Jill Diana will officiate. A luncheon will follow. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m., until the time of service at the church.

The following day both Margaret and Jack will have graveside service at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Hokah, MN.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.FredricksonFuneralHomes.com.