Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Don Fertile Obituary
FERTILE | Don W. "Taxi" Nelson, 86, of Fertile, died Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the I.O.O.F. Home in Mason City.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, with Pastor Rob Perry officiating.
Burial will be in Clear Lake Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Family suggests memorial contributions to Opportunity Village in Clear Lake or to the Fertile Church of Christ.
Don was born July 20, 1930, the son of Holden and Mary C. (Wilson) Nelson on the family farm in Kanawha, IA. He married Clarice Evans on Dec. 30, 1954, in Mason City. They later divorced in 1993.
A graduate of Clear Lake High School, Don was active in all sports. He lettered three years in football, ran the mile relay with Ray Bieber, Tom Joslyn and Charlie Crane, and was on the Clear Lake Ski Team during the early 1950s. During high school and the summer months, he worked at Clear Lake Bakery before going to work for Great Lakes Pipeline in 1951. He then worked at John Deere in Waterloo until 1971, when he began working for Winnebago in Forest City, until 1986. After that, he worked at Opportunity Village, where he retired from.
Don was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church while growing up, and later in life a member of the Fertile Church of Christ. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, which included a hole-in-one at Oak Hills Golf Course in Clear Lake in 2001, going to the YMCA in Forest City, and attending AA meetings since 1980.
Don is survived by a son, Steven (Cindy) Nelson of Waterloo; seven grandchildren, Jeremy (Adella) Nelson, Steven (Sarah) Nelson, Jr., Daniel (Amber) Sturtz, Luke (Brandy) Linsey, Amanda (John) Niznik, Cody Marr, and Sarah (Travis) Bloom; 11 great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Julie Nelson of Sheffield; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Cindy Lou Nelson; a son, Donny; and a brother, Alvin.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapels, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake. 641-357-2193. ColonialChapels.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Don Fertile
Sponsored by Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Don Fertile's name
Memorial Events
for Don Fertile
Funeral services provided by:
Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel310 1st Avenue North, Clear Lake, IA 50428
How to support Don's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Don Fertile's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
