Obituaries » Kenneth L Nelson
Kenneth L Nelson
December 16, 1941 - August 15, 2022
Service Date: August 19, 2022
Funeral Home Memorial Services of Iowa
Kenneth LeRoy Nelson, Sr. passed away August 15, 2022 surrounding by his family.
A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd). Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service, also at the funeral home. Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, IA. The funeral service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/2356970
Ken was born at home in Des Moines on Dec 16, 1941, only days after Pearl Harbor, the first of five children of Everett and Delores Nelson. He attended several schools in the Des Moines area as well as San Jose, CA.
He retired from Ralph N. Smith, Inc. Floor Covering after 30 years of service. He had also worked as a Reserve Polk County Deputy Sherriff.
Ken was an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War where he was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart. He was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia (Blackhorse Regiment) and the Blackhorse Association, and the Carpenter’s Union Local 106. Ken was extremely proud of his military service and had a lifelong passion for patriotism as well as great respect of the American Flag.
He enjoyed rooting for the Indianapolis Colts and woodworking in his garage workshop. He created many replica World War II era airplanes, civil war era canon lawn ornaments and replicas of masted schooner ships that have found their way to many locations in and out of Iowa, as well as making canes for veterans. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Ken will be remembered as a loving and devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, and Uncle, as well as a loyal and trustworthy friend. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.
Ken is survived by his wife of 40 years, Tena; his daughters, Misty Nation and Jody Clark (Tim); son, Ken Nelson, Jr. (Shena); eight grandchildren; four great-grandsons; and two sisters, Karen Kelderman and Vicki Barry. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; brothers, Dennis Nelson and Richard Nelson (Indianapolis, IN); and two half-brothers, Jerry and Edgar Adams; and a grandson, Dylan Fisher.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20.