Nathalyn Faye “Nathie” (Krohn) and Eugene Roy “Gene” Nelson
NORFOLK — A joint memorial service will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. for Nathalyn Faye “Nathie” (Krohn) and Eugene Roy “Gene” Nelson.
The service will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
Gene and Nathie were born south and west of Wausa. Gene was born Jan. 24, 1926, to Roy A. and Hannah (Nyquist) Nelson on the family farm southwest of Wausa. He was baptized May 8, 1926, and confirmed May 28, 1939, at the Mission Covenant Church, Wausa. A brother, Donald Adrian, joined the family April 29, 1929. Gene died at Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home, Norfolk, June 26, 2017.
Nathie was born Sept. 13, 1927, to Wilhelm Henry and Freda Justina (Frevert) Krohn on the family farm southwest of Wausa. Phyllis Verlyn and June Marcell welcomed her home. She was baptized Oct. 9, 1927, and confirmed June 16, 1940, at Golgotha Lutheran Church, near Wausa, by Pastor George H. Pullman. She joined Gene in heaven Jan. 11, 2018.
Both attended and graduated from Wausa High School. They were married Dec. 22, 1945, at Golgotha Lutheran Church, by Pastor George H. Pullman, while Gene was on leave from the U.S. Army. He had been stationed at Camp Fannin, Texas. They celebrated 71 years of marriage.
After he was discharged from the Army, he moved back to Nebraska and they settled in Norfolk. They both attended Norfolk Junior College. During their years of employment, Gene worked at Ballantyne’s Furniture for 39 years, while Nathie worked for the City of Norfolk after their children were out of grade school.
Both were active in the community. They were charter members of Our Savior Lutheran Church where both served in many offices in the church. Gene was also active with the Norfolk Junior Chamber of Commerce and served on the tourism committee. He was a long-time member of the Lions Club, Legion Post 16 and served on the auditing committee of the Norfolk United Fund. Nathie was active in the Mrs. Jaycees of Nebraska, the PTA of Northern Hills School as President and received the State Life Member. She was a Girl Scout Leader for many years and a den mother for the Cub Scouts. She was also a member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and the Norfolk Community Concert for many years. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of a bridge club that began in 1948.
During their retirement, the couple traveled to all 50 states and Germany. They wintered in Galveston, Texas, for many years and followed their grandchildren’s activities. The couple built a new home in the fall of 1997 leaving their home on Elm Avenue after 40 years.
They are survived by their four children, Adrienne and Dennis Hardt, Omaha; Candace Nelson, Omaha; Faythe Petersen, Norfolk; and Ross and Shawne Nelson, Omaha; five grandchildren, Sarah and Gary Lovely, Omaha; Alexander and Katie Hardt, Omaha,; Katherine and Scott Morrill, Lincoln; Hannah Nelson, Chicago, Ill.; and Andrew Nelson, Omaha; and great-grandchildren, Hunter and Maxx Morrill, Annabelle and Grayson Lovely, and Myles Hardt, as well as two step great grandchildren, Laura and Trevor Lovely.
They are predeceased by a son-in-law, Don Petersen. In lieu of flowers, the family request any memorials be sent to them for an organization of their choice.
