John Clair Nelson

John Clair Nelson was born in Depew, Iowa, to Theodore and Mamie (Jacobson) Nelson on July 2, 1929 and graduated from Emmetsburg  High School in 1947. John went on to earn his B.S. degree in Agriculture Education from Iowa State University and later his M.S. degree at the University of MN in Vocational Education and Animal Science.
John first taught in Palmer, IA, from 1954 to 1958. While teaching in Palmer, he met Colleen M. Vogel and the couple were united in marriage on June 8, 1957. In 1958, they moved to Alden where John taught agriculture and adult farm management. He created and maintained an active FFA program for 29 years in the Alden school district, including the creation of the Kiddies Barnyard at the Freeborn County Fair. John was an active member of the Alden Lions and Redeemer Lutheran Church, and also an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and spending summers at the cabin with his family.
John is survived by his wife, Colleen; their children Kim (Randy) Jacobs of Cylinder, Iowa, Bruce (Shellie) Nelson of Winona, and Jane (Michael) Bute of Alden; grandchildren Jeremiah Jacobs, Jennifer (Kelby) Auldredge, Andrew Jacobs, Emily Reyerson, Michael Reyerson, Jennifer Bute and Derek Bute. John is also survived by his sister, Marian Fjare.
John was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, brother-in-law, Paul Fjare, and his brother, T. Milton Nelson.