Aymer E. Nelson

Aymer E. Nelson, 104 year old resident of Upsala, MN passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017 at the Mother of Mercy Assisted Living in Albany, MN. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at Community Covenant Church in Upsala, MN with Rev. Craig Johnson officiating. Burial will take place in the Community Covenant Cemetery in Upsala, MN. A visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM prior to the service at Community Covenant Church in Upsala, MN. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel. Aymer Emanuel Nelson lived a long, fulfilling, life. He passed quietly in his sleep on July 30, 2017, surrounded by family and loving caregivers. Aymer was born in Duluth to Swedish immigrants, Anton and Hilma (Fohlin) Nelson, on November 24, 1912. He was the youngest of three siblings (Ames and Alice). Aymer spent summers working on the farm of Frank Anderson in Upsala and later partnered with Martin Erickson on a turkey farm there. He also worked as a bellman at the Spaulding Hotel in Duluth and in his younger years, he owned various cars, a few motorcycles and three airplanes. At the age of 30 he volunteered to serve in the Army. He participated in the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach. After landing, his unit spent the next four weeks battling their way to St. Lo, only 23 miles away. Until the end of the war, his unit, the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion, marched across France, Belgium and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge. His unit also liberated concentration camps, including Ordruff. During this period he led a small group of soldiers that guarded the rocket scientist, Wernher Von Braun, before he was shipped to America. Always optimistic and respectful, he was full of positive stories of the war and how much he valued all the people he met and the experiences he had while serving in the military. Upon returning from Europe, he eloped with his one and only sweetheart Verna Nilson in Duluth in August 1946. She grew up just across the road from the Erickson farm in Upsala and “had her eye on him” from an early age. The young couple bought the Erickson farm and moved their growing family to Upsala. As part of the GI Bill, Aymer took agriculture classes. Over the years he farmed, served as telephone board chair, drove school bus, the senior bus and was active on his church board and with the American Legion. Aymer was always a kind, adventurous soul. During his later years he enjoyed international travel with his family and had the opportunity to travel to his parents’ Swedish homeland at age 71. In 1994, he traveled to France for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He was even part of a Stevie Nicks video, while dancing on the ship! He proudly became a grandfather at 82. He loved chocolate, heartfelt hugs, sunny weather and (really) hot coffee. Aymer is survived by his daughter Fay (Nelson) Giordano and her husband Frank Giordano; his son Tom Nelson and his wife Melinda Bennett, grandchildren Justus and Carly Nelson and many nieces and nephews. Our deepest thanks go out to the loving caregivers at Mother of Mercy in Albany, who treated him as a family member. Also thank you to St. Croix Hospice, who in the end, made his last weeks and days comfortable for him and his family.

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Aymer E. Nelson

November 24, 1912 - July 30, 2017