Arthur E. Nelson -- Austin

AUSTIN -- A memorial service will be held for Arthur E. Nelson at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Austin with the Rev. Becky Jo Thilges officiating. Interment will be in Cedar City Cemetery.

Mr. Nelson, 81, of Route 2, Austin, a longtime area farmer and retired Hormel Foods Corp. employee, died Saturday (Feb. 27, 1999) at Austin Medical Center.

He was born March 12, 1917, in Ellsworth, Iowa, graduated from Austin High School in 1936 and served in the Navy from 1942 to 1944. On Aug. 27, 1938, he married Marna McFarland at First United Methodist Church in Austin. Mr. Nelson built houses around Austin with his father-in law, farmed, did custom combining with his son and grandsons, and worked at Hormel for 41 years before his retirement in 1975. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school for 12 years, and was a member of the VFW and Odd Fellows. He enjoyed gardening, and traveling.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Ellen (Mrs. Roger) Hanson of Elysian, Minn.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Chester of San Jose, Calif., and Donald of New Port Beach, Calif. He was preceded in death by a son, three sisters and five brothers.

Friends may call an hour before the service Tuesday at the church. There will be no reviewal.

Clasen-Jordan Mortuary in Austin is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church or American Heart Association.