LaVerne M. Nelson, 86

LaVerne M. Nelson, age 86 of New Hampton, IA passed away peacefully on Monday, October 8, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton.Funeral services for LaVerne will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton, IA with Pastor Kevin Frey officiating.  Friends may greet the family at the church from 9:30-11:00 AM on Saturday prior to the services.  Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com.  Memorials may be directed to the family.Mr. Nelson was born on May 25, 1932 to Emil and Eva Nelson in Fennimore, WI.  After graduating from Richland Center High School, LaVerne served in the US Air Force during the Korean War.  Following his service he attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  On May 20, 1961, LaVerne was united in marriage to Mary Warren at Midvale Lutheran Church in Madison.  The couple raised their three children in the New Hampton area, where LaVerne worked for Beatrice Cheese, Inc.  He retired as the General Manager-Western Division at Beatrice in 1995.  He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving as the past president of the church council and sang in the Senior Choir.  LeVerne also served on various boards in the community and was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the El Kahir Shrine.  LaVerne enjoyed golf, traveling, fishing trips to Canada with family and friends and his annual hunting trips to Northern WI.  His greatest joy were his grandchildren.Those left to cherish LaVerne’s memory are his wife, Mary Nelson of New Hampton; his daughter, Susan (Ross) of Frisco, TX; his two sons, Thomas Nelson of Jerome, ID and Stephen of Deerfield, WI; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nephews and one niece.He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Harriet and a brother, Meredith.