Gary George Nelson

Gary G. Nelson, age 71, rural Willow Lake, passed to glory on Saturday, May 25, 2019

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and after 9AM Wednesday morning.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 10:30 AM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark with Pastor Roseanne Dyce Anderson officiating.  Burial will be later in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake.  Casketbearers will be Tony Konechne, Rodell Kretzschmar, Mark McHenry, Tim Clement, Vernon Tarbox, & Rick Bruley.

Gary George Nelson was born May 22, 1948, the son of Norman George Nelson and Welma Mae (nee Brannan) Nelson in Watertown, South Dakota. He attended country school in Carpenter and graduated from the Willow Lake High School in 1966. In High School he wrestled, enjoyed playing football, and was chosen as the Co-Captain of the football team. He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings briefly and then transferred to the College of Automation in Des Moines, Iowa where he studied computer programming.

After completing his degree he married his High School sweetheart, Peggy Ann Spieker on November 30, 1968 in Willow Lake. Gary was always a farmer at heart so in 1970 he and Peggy moved back to a farm near Gary's parents. Gary farmed with his Dad, began a custom swathing business with his brothers, raised pigs, and operated a hay moving business which enabled him to make many friends in the area.  He loved talking to fellow farmers and took pride in keeping all of his John Deere machinery in top working order. Valuing higher yields he converted to 20 inch rows and used his shop to design, invent, and engineer equipment adaptations for his machinery. He was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Willow Lake.

Gary passed to glory on Saturday, May 25, 2019 surrounded by his daughters, wife and Mother.  Gary is survived by his wife of 50 years, Peggy of Willow Lake and their three daughters; Daneen (Fred) Jabbour, Rachel (Ron) Walz, and Ellen Nelson; and his two brothers, Dale (Jill) Nelson and Brad (Kristi) Nelson and his mother, Welma Nelson. He was the proud grandfather of four grandchildren, Joseph and Emily Jabbour, Josiah and Bekah Walz, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, and two grandchildren.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorials would be appreciated to the Clark County Ambulance Fund, 100 South Cloud St, Clark, SD 57225

The Furness Funeral Home at Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com

Click on the following link to view a Memorial Tribute for Gary -

http://videos.lifetributes.com/1002196