Joyce Mae Nelson

Joyce Mae Nelson, age 90 of North Mankato, died Sunday, February 26, 2017 surrounded by her family.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church Mankato with Rev. Dr. Scott E. Olson officiating. Burial at 3:45 p.m. Saturday at Riverside Cemetery rural Annandale, Minnesota. Visitation from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church or Pathstone Living.

Joyce was born March 19, 1926 to Carl and Hannah (Persson) Hultgren in Cokato, MN. She graduated from Cokato High School. Joyce was united in marriage to Harold Nelson on June 1, 1946 in Cokato, MN. They moved to Mankato in 1949. Joyce worked at The Mankato Lutheran Home in 1969 as an office manager and retired after 35 years of service.

Joyce was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato serving as past President of the church council and also served on the South East Synod board of the ELCA. Joyce was a charter member of Twilight Garden Club, board member of Mankato Lutheran Home Auxiliary and also served on the Lutheran Brotherhood board. She was also a longtime member of the Swedish Club. She was proud of her Swedish family and enjoyed traveling to Sweden 16 times.

Joyce is survived by her four children, Charles (Patricia) Nelson of Paynesville, MN, Carole (John Pearson) Nelson, of Burnsville, MN, Carla (Brian) Knapp of Lakeville, MN, Christopher (Maryann) Nelson of St. Peter; nine grandchildren, Elizabeth (Kendall), Sarah (Richard), Anne (Timothy), Michael (Jennifer), Kevin, Kristin, Kyle, Benjamin, and Andrew; nine great-grandchildren; nieces nephews and cousins. Her cat Mia.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold in 1983; brother, Donald; sister, Marion.