Richard L. "Dick" Nelson

Visitation will be held from 10am to 11am on Saturday February 28, 2026, at Merle Hay Funeral Home Chapel, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, followed by a brief remembrance service at 11am, with burial immediately following.

Dick Nelson, born November 15, 1935 to Arvene and Bessie Nelson in Des Moines, passed away on February 21, 2026 in Des Moines. He spent his early years learning the values of integrity, hard work and independence. He graduated from Tech High School, then Drake University in 1957 and a Masters in 1963.

Dick's cousin, Sheila, introduced Dick to her nursing student classmate and roommate, Barbara Clark. He married the love of his life in Fairfield, Iowa – Barb's hometown - on August 17, 1958. They raised three children, and moved often during Dick's early career as a teacher and principal, and then with the Bell System, eventually settling permanently at their newly built home in Urbandale in 1968.

Dick enjoyed a very interesting and varied career that spanned several specialties – pro baseball player, Sales, Teacher and Principal, Northwestern Bell Manager, Professional Recruiter, HR Executive, with the highlight of his career as an executive for American Federal Savings and Loan. He made many lifetime friends there, and often spoke of what a gift it was to work with such a wonderful group of talented, smart, and ambitious people.

He developed a passion to skillfully create many beautiful and sentimental furniture pieces for family and friends. With the help of knowledgeable friends, he built a superbly constructed woodworking shop in the back yard where he would work late into the night "making sawdust", as he called it. Later in life, Dick and Barb enjoyed traveling and proudly watching and supporting their grandchildren's athletic, academic, and musical successes, while Dick enjoyed golfing and fishing.

He is survived by Barb, his loving wife of 67½ years; His children, Debbie (Bob) Minkler of Urbandale, Dave (Kathie) Nelson of Johnston, and Doug (Julie) Nelson of Fishers, Indiana; His Grandchildren Kristine (Andrew) Glass of Noblesville, Indiana, Nick (Maggie) Nelson of Ankeny, Kate (Will) Dayton of Clive, Natalie (Hunter) Nelson of Ankeny, Kelly (Kyle) Nelson of Morrison, Colorado, Sarah (Matthew) Jacob of Altoona, Molly (Dean) Howard of Urbandale, and Jack Nelson of Fishers, Indiana; And, his Great-Granddaughter, Ellie Glass of Noblesville, Indiana.

In lieu of flower and memorial contributions, donations may be made in Richard's honor to the Urbandale Food Pantry.