Robert H. Nelson

January 3, 1949 - January 30, 2022

The funeral service for Robert H. Nelson of Parkers Prairie will be held at 11:00 am. on Saturday, February 5, at the Elmo Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie, with Pastor Rachel L. O. Stout presiding. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., and will resume on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Shortly after his 73rd birthday, Robert passed away surrounded by his family on January 30, 2022, at Tri County Health Care in Wadena, MN. Robert Herschel Nelson was born to Raymond and Mary (DeRung) Nelson on January 3, 1949, in Morris, MN. Bob married Janet Ellen Bowman on November 2, 1968, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning. Following their marriage, Robert enjoyed dairy farming until his health forced him into a career change. After obtaining an education in appliance repair and refrigeration, Robert launched Nelson’s Appliance and Refrigeration Service in Parkers Prairie. In addition, Robert also did cement work and built silos. Hours away from work found him snowmobiling, deer hunting, camping, making lefsa and doughnuts with his family, and cheating at playing cards. He loved being around family and friends and had a knack for picking on everyone!  He enjoyed everything about horses and even broke a wild mustang, named “Nevada”. He was a member of the MN Draft Horse Association. Each and every day Robert carried an attitude of positivity while living with diabetes (since age 15), along with having heart bypass and a kidney transplant. Preceding Robert in death were his parents, Raymond and Mary; siblings Jan Tepley and Donna Sander; brothers-in-law, Shorty Kingston, Frank Arnold, Neil Ehlers and Robert Sander; nephew, Daniel Kingston; and in-laws, Wayne and Hertha Bowman. Left with loving memories are Robert’s wife, Janet; daughters, Lisa (Rick) Kruger of Brainerd, Jennifer (Russell) Higgs, and LeAnn (Bob) Aldrich both of Parkers Prairie; grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Jacob, Jared, Megan, Casey, Nicholas, and Sabrina; sister, Sharon Ehlers of Elbow Lake; many family and friends and his four-legged companion, Sue. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Bowman, Leon Bowman, Dean Bowman, David Bowman, Jim Dodds, Casey Aldrich, Nick Aldrich, Sabrina Aldrich, Jared Higgs, Megan Higgs, Kaitlyn Kruger and Jacob Kruger. Serving as pallbearers will be Bruce Riedel, Jeff Arnold, Shane Arnold, Andy Bowman, Keith Bowman, Evan Tepley, Terry Swanson and Kirk Ehlers. Burial will be in the Elmo Lutheran Cemetery, Parkers Prairie, MN. In memory of Robert, consider being an organ or blood donor, and support the American Diabetes Association.