Neil Elmer Nelson, 85, of St. Olaf died Sunday, September 27, 2009, at the Elkader Care Center in Elkader. He was born June 24, 1924, at St. Olaf, to Nels O. and Eva A. (Ronquist) Nelson. Neil attended Dry Run country school in rural Wagner Township through the eighth grade. Neil farmed until 1964; when he moved to St. Olaf. He started working for International Harvester, currently Windridge Implement in Elkader. He worked there for forty one years, until May of 2009, when he became ill and unable to work.

He was united in marriage to WillaDean Ann Lamphier on August 26, 1949, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They later divorced. Neil married Norma Jean Troester on July 27, 1985, at Norway Lutheran Church, rural St. Olaf. His hobbies included collecting tractors, attending auctions, playing the guitar, listening to country and western music and watching boxing. Following his move to town in 1964, he continued to farm – proving that you can take the man out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the man.

Survivors include his wife Norma Jean Nelson of St. Olaf; children, Nina Nell (Ron) Taylor of Decorah, Nola Kay (Jim) Blake of Tucson, AZ, LeRoy Neil (Dee) Nelson of Elkader; step-children, Debra J. Troester, of St. Olaf, Virginia D. (Rick) Shefelbine of Garnavillo, Alan Troester of Guttenberg, Calvin (Angela) Troester of Earlville; six grandchildren, , Liz Peterson, Bradley Peterson, Patrick Peterson, Leah Beaman, Nolan Nelson, Levi Nelson; step-grandchildren, Jessie Shefelbine, Travis Shefelbine, Tina Hagarty, Ryan Troester, Grant Troester, Bryce Troester, Ean Troester, Max Troester.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents.