Charis Nelson

Charis Ann Nelson, 80, of Blair passed from this life on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair after a brief illness.

Charis Ann Axelson was born June 17, 1926, on a farm in Knox County near Wausa to Philip E. and Edna C. (Nelson) Axelson. Her mother chose her name from a book she had read called "Charis Sees It Through." She attended Wausa Public Schools and graduated in 1943. She moved to Omaha to work at Mutual of Omaha and received her first paycheck before her 17th birthday. In 1946, she met Lester "Gus" Nelson of Oakland as he had come back from the service in Europe. They were married on June 1, 1947. They along with brother and sister-in-law, J. Emery and Patricia Nelson, operated Nelson Brothers Clothiers in Blair for 38 years. She also started working at Washington County Bank in 1964 and was promoted to officer in charge of the bookkeeping department until her retirement in 1991.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church at Blair for 60 years. She also was involved and served as president of many civic organizations, including: American Legion Post 154 Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1251 Auxiliary, United Methodist Women, P. E. O. Chapter HL, and was a member of Financial Women International, Memorial Community Hospital Auxiliary, and served on the board of directors of Crowell Memorial Home.

She loved to travel and she and her husband made many trips to Nebraska football games - both home and away. She traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, England, Australia, New Zealand and Panama. Her best known hobby was collecting kangaroos. She collected hundreds of small figurines, stuffed kangaroos and pictures of kangaroos. All of her friends knew her as the Kangaroo Lady of Blair.

Survivors include: two sons, Randy (and wife, Debbie) Nelson of Kennard and Marshall (and wife, Lynda) Nelson of Blair; a daughter, Leslie (and husband, Mark) Janky of Omaha; a sister, Gloria (and husband, Harry) Wagner of Kerrville, Texas; a sister-in-law, Patricia Nelson of Blair; a brother-in-law, Curly Nelson of Oakland; six grandchildren, a great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a grandson, Brett Philip Nelson, and many close friends.

The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Blair with the Revs. Denny M. Silk and A.K. Saul officiating. There is no visitation. Burial will be in Blair Cemetery.

Memorials have been established to First United Methodist Church in Blair and Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.

Paid.