A Celebration of Life Service for Larry J. Nelson, age 88 of Windom, will be held Monday, April 8th at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Windom, with Jim Jorgenson officiating. The burial will be in the Hersey Cemetery in rural Brewster, Minnesota.

A time of visitation and gathering will be held on April 8th from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Windom.

Larry James Nelson was born May 8, 1935, to the late Alfred Hans and Alice (Bauchle) Nelson in Worthington, MN. Larry graduated from Brewster High School in 1953 and went on to attend Dunwoody College. On March 25, 1955, Larry wed the love of his life, Joanne Marie Kraft. Larry and JoAnne were blessed with two sons, Kurt and Kirby, two daughters, Roxanne and Nikki, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Larry and his wife Joanne started their family in Brewster, MN, where he was a painter by trade. In 1967 he found a beautiful location tucked away in the woods outside of Windom where he and Joanne built their dream home and raised their family. In 1970, Larry opened Larry's Paint Store in Windom where he and Joanne sold paint, wallpaper and custom draperies. After selling the store in 1976, Larry continued to sell and repair paint sprayers out of his shop for many years.

At their home in the woods, Larry hunted with his sons, cut firewood in the trees, and simply loved nature. He spent hours feeding the birds and would also record the yearly return of the robins, orioles, and one special owl who made his home year after year right in their backyard! He took pride in his many wood duck houses and tracked the yearly hatch of the ducklings. It was a thrill to watch their journey from their home high in the trees down to the lake. Larry loved watching many other critters as they strolled through the woods like the deer and wild turkeys; but he fiercely fought the squirrels and rabbits! Larry was a master gardener and loved to share his great bounty of produce every year with family and friends!

Early in their marriage, on the strong suggestion of Joanne, they purchased their first horses. From there grew a lifetime of breeding, raising, and showing American Saddlebreds. Larry showed futurity champions throughout the Midwest including Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. He took just as much pride in watching his family exhibit and win championships for Oak Grove Farm.

Larry is lovingly remembered by his sons, Kurt Nelson (Vicki Olsen) of St. James, MN, Kirby (Kim) Nelson of Lexington, KY; daughters, Roxanne (Tim) Lockard of Russel, IA, and Nikki (Jim) Jorgenson of Westbrook, MN; grandchildren Kaili (Michael) Braa of Eagan, MN, Emily Nelson of Lexington, KY, Jack Jorgenson(fiancé Mariah Beckmann) of Westbrook, MN, and Kate Jorgenson of Vermillion, SD; two great grandchildren Mariah and Wyatt Braa; brother Rick (Janet) Nelson of Windom, MN; sister, Mary Kay Anderson of Bingham Lake, MN; sister-in-law Harriet Schmitz Miller of Brewster, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne Nelson; parents, Alfred Hans and Alice Nelson; brother, Ronnie Nelson; niece, Kay (Anderson) Schmidt; sister-in-law, Norma Baumgard; brothers-in-law, Donald Baumgard, Clarence Schmitz and Ron Miller.

God bless the memory and family of Larry James Nelson.