Russell B. Nelson, Jr., 67, of Waterloo, Iowa, formerly of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, died at his home Friday, February 7, 2014 following a lengthy illness.

Russell was born on September 3, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota son of Russell B. Sr. and Dorothy Anderson Nelson.

He graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1964; attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from Brown College with a degree in Broadcasting. He married Marlys Paulson on November 22, 1969 in Fridley, Minnesota.

He worked for University of Northwestern-St. Paul at St. Paul Radio and KNWS Radio in Waterloo for 11 years. He worked for PIPAC for 17 years and then for Advantage Administrators in marketing until retiring in December 2012. Russell was ordained as a Pastor in 1981 and served as interim at several area churches.

Russell was a member of Cedar Valley Community Church, Crossroads Rotary, and the National Association of Health Underwriters. He was a pen and watch collector and a bit of a train buff. He enjoyed golfing in his free time.

Russell is survived by his wife Marlys of Waterloo; two sons Gordon of Cedar Rapids and Erik and his wife Colleen of Waterloo; a daughter Laura of Alexandria, Virginia; two granddaughters Delia and Isabelle Nelson; his mother Dorothy of Maplewood, Minnesota, a brother Michael and his wife Beth of Aurora, Colorado; four sisters: Nancy Kopesky and her husband Dave of Maplewood, Mary Helland and her husband John of Tallahassee, Florida, Susan El-Eid of Oakdale, Minnesota, and Sarah Brown of Oakdale. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; and two aunts Alice Ellefson and her husband Steve of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota and Betty Hemen of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Russell was preceded in death by his father.