Noel H. Nelson

Noel H. Nelson, age 96 of Viroqua, died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Noel H. Nelson, age 96 of Viroqua, WI, died at the Bethel Home in Viroqua on Saturday, April 21, 2007. Noel was born on July 15, 1910 in rural Ferryville, WI to Alex and Helen (Eskestrand) Nelson. He was united in marriage to Evelyn Hoyum on October 12, 1940. He and Evelyn were married for 62 years prior to Evelyns death in November of 2002. Noel spent all of his adult life in Vernon County, WI. He was a dairy farmer in the West Prairie area. In 1978, Noel and Evelyn moved to Viroqua, WI where he continued to manage the farm until his death. He was an active member of the Northwest Prairie Lutheran Church for 67 years where he served on the church council and various committees. Noel greatly enjoyed his church, family and friends. His interests were meteorology, travel, reading, drinking coffee with family and friends, sports, geography, and playing Triominos and Make-A-Million with his extended family. Amazingly, he kept a journal of weather conditions and daily activities from 1929 to 2006. He was often consulted by family, friends, and media regarding verification of weather and event information. Survivors include his son, Donald (Sonja) Nelson of Waunakee, WI; two daughters: Bette (Dr. Paul) Vandersteen of Fargo, ND and Barbara (John) Bachman of Des Moines, IA; eight grandchildren: Dr. David (Victoria) Vandersteen of Eden Prairie, MN, Dr. Daniel (Suzi) Vandersteen of Duluth, MN, Peter (Naomi) Vandersteen of Hutchinson, MN, Rachel Vandersteen (Michael) Hennies of St. Louis, MO, Tonia (Dr. Jeffrey) White of Pinehurst, NC, Troy (Amy) Nelson of Athens, GA, John (Jennifer) Bachman of Raleigh, NC, and Alison Bachman of Minnetonka, MN; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother, Chester (Jeanne) Nelson; one sister, Helen Hendrickson; sisters-in-law: Bernice Nelson, Mabel Oliver, Lillian Hoyum, Iva Hoyum, and Margaret Hoyum; brothers-in-law: Fred (Carole) Hoyum and Carl Oliver. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; his twin sisters, Synora Lunder and Sylvia Overboe; an infant sister, Hazel Nelson; a brother, Earl Nelson; brothers-in-law: Palmer Hendrickson, Clarence Swangstu, Ole Overboe, Harold Hoyum, Norman Hoyum, Edwin Hoyum and Arnold Emerson; and sisters-in-law: Gertrude Oliver, Jean Hoyum, Helen Emerson, and infant Helen Clarice Hoyum. His family and friends will miss his dry sense of humor and his kindness toward all. The family prefers any memorials be made to the Northwest Prairie Lutheran Church or the Bethel Home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Northwest Prairie Lutheran Church. Pastors Adolf Quast and Steven Fossum will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday after 10:00 a.m. For online condolences, please visit www.vosseteigfuneralhomes.com The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.