David L. Nelson, 82, of Marcus passed away on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, Iowa. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. Rev. Ron Rice will officiate. Burial will follow at Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. The family will present from 6-8 p.m. to greet friends and a prayer service is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church on Thursday prior to the funeral.

David Leon Nelson was born on May 29, 1932 in Marcus, Iowa to Roy E. and Florence M. (Meyer) Nelson. He graduated from Marcus High School in 1950 and continued his education at Westmar College in Le Mars where he played football. Following college, David began farming with is father near Marcus.

On August 17, 1952, David and Shirlee B. Barnes were united in marriage at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. They made their first home on a farm near Alta, Iowa. After five years in Alta they returned to Marcus and farmed north of town. In 1968, they relocated to a farm south of Marcus and remained there until moving into town in 1996. Along with grain farming, David raised cattle and was active with the National Cattleman’s Association and sat on the Supreme Beef Marketing Board.

David was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and served on the Farmers’ Cooperative Elevator Board. David was an avid golfer and was club champion several times at the Marcus Golf Course. He began annual fishing trips in 1947 to southern Ontario, Canada with family and friends.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years, Shirlee of Marcus, IA; three sons, Jeff and Colleen of Manning, IA, John and Jeri of Salix, IA and Eric and Carol of Moville, IA; grandchildren, Nic and Michelle Nelson, Luke Nelson, Bethany and Jake Vander Zee, Mark Nelson and fiancé Melissa Keyes, Matthew Nelson, John Nelson, Paul Nelson and Sarah Nelson, great-grandchildren, Logan and Emmalin Nelson, J.J. and Charlee Vander Zee, Grace and Claire Nelson; a sister, Linda Nelson of Goodyear, AZ; and a brother, Roger and Nancy Nelson of Marcus, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.