Irene F. Nelson, 92 of Osage and formerly of Plymouth and Mason City passed away peacefully Monday, January 1, 2024 at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.
The family will have a private memorial service at a future date. She will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, IA.
Irene Frances was born September 15, 1931 in Mason City, the daughter of Forrest G. and Irene (Schaeffer) Judd. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1949. On August 23, 1950 she married Neal H. Nelson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City; and they had four children.
The young couple made their home near Aredale, IA where they farmed and cared for livestock. They would later move to Plymouth, IA and following Neal’s retirement, make their home in Mason City. Over the years, Irene worked as a clerk at Damons and later as the head cook at the North Central High School in Manly. Before retirement, Irene worked in Home Healthcare for Cerro Gordo County.
Irene enjoyed tending to the garden and flower patches. She was a longtime member of the Aredale Methodist Church and later the Plymouth United Methodist Church, where she was very active, helping in the ladies groups. As a red hat lady, Irene enjoyed outings and events in the community. When out and about, whether at coffee with Neal or shopping with her children, it seemed Irene knew everyone. You could always count on an intriguing conversation.
Those grateful for sharing in her life are her children, Lu Ann (Dean) Cockrum, Osage, Lynn (Korrine) Nelson, Manly, La Neal (Melody Dunn) Nelson, Green Mountain, and David (Catherine) Nelson, Spencer; nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Neal; parents; brother, Darrell Judd; sister, Donna Luscomb; and a grandson, Ben Cockrum.
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