Ardell E. Nelson

Ardell E. Nelson, 82, of Whitehall, died Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Gundersen Tri-County Hospital and Clinics in Whitehall. Ardell was born February 23, 1937 in Chimney Rock Township, to Terrence and Aphel (Sundaker) Nelson. He married Judy Hinkle on November 27, 1958 in Kingston, Ill. Ardell farmed in Dover Township, Buffalo County and then worked for Caterpillar in Aurora, Ill for 10 years before moving back to Dover Township in 1974 and resumed farming. Ardell was a member of Evanger Lutheran Church. He served on various offices for UAW Local 145 in Illinois. He lived 44 years as a live organ donor recipient. Following renal failure caused by Scarlet Fever in 1975, he was lovingly gifted a kidney by his older brother, LeRoy Nelson. Ardell is survived by his wife, Judy of Whitehall; son, Gerald (Nancy Klove) Nelson of Whitehall; two daughters, Ronda (Jim) Meier of Gilmanton and Kathy (Tom) Gaffney of Brockport, N. Y.; eight grandchildren, Heidi (Luke) Steffen, Andrew (Jessica Watson) and Lance (Shelby) Meier, Dawn (Josh) Kroening, Becky (Andrew) Kohnert, Robert, James and Elizabeth Gaffney; 9 great-grandchildren, Gauge, Rhett, Marli, Nolan, Kaitlyn, Maggie, Waylon, Mason and Bridget; brother, LeRoy Nelson of Colfax; sister, Betty Austin of DeKalb, Ill.; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Steven; parents; three brothers, Warren, Lavern and Charles. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Evanger Lutheran Church, rural Independence, with Rev. James Peterson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ardell E. Nelson, please visit our flower store.