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Verner Donald Nelson

August 28, 1934 - December 7, 2024

Memorial Service

Friday, June 27, 2025

Starting at 4:00 PM

First Baptist Church of Waterloo

W 4th & Baltimore St,
Waterloo, IA 50701

Memorials

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/

Verner Donald Nelson, 90, passed away on December 7, 2024, at his home with his family in Waterloo, Iowa. He had a special spirit, with his twinkling blue eyes, sense of humor, and extraordinary kindness.

A lifelong resident of Waterloo, Vern was born to Joseph Robert and Agnes Eldona Maher Nelson at their home near Gates Park. Vern was devoted to his family, and, as a child, he held several jobs to help out around the house. In grade school, he would climb into the brush and wade into creeks to find golf balls and resell them—a surprisingly lucrative business. He also worked at Sunnyside Country Club, where one of his duties was to run onto the course with a slot machine and then hide when word came that the sheriff was on his way.

He graduated from East High School in 1954 and lettered in football, tennis, basketball, and wrestling. The school inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2010.

While in high school, Vern caught the eye of the love of his life, Donna Lee Warren, while walking past her house to play tennis. The two wouldn't formally meet until the Youth Fellowship Dance held by First Baptist Church in Waterloo, where they were members for over 70 years.

Vern and Donna married in 1953 and were inseparable for seven decades. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2023 at the same hotel where they honeymooned, the Palmer House in Chicago. Several news stations brought film crews to document the celebration and captured the two dancing to their favorite song, "Could I Have This Dance," by Anne Murray.

They worked together for their entire adult lives. At 18, he was a sales agent, and she was the office manager at Warren Transport. In 1960, the two founded Nelson Insurance Agency, which grew to have branches in several states. It was the first firm in the United States to have a contract with Lloyd's of London outside of the New York and Los Angeles markets. Vern loved being an insurance agent and proudly held his license until the day he died.

Vern and Donna were real estate investors who began in 1968 by building five commercial offices on Falls Avenue. This turned into investments in construction companies, roller skating rinks, an athletic club, and several restaurants. They had real estate in Acapulco, the Palm Beaches, Singer Island, and Jupiter, Florida. Vern also donated land in Cocoa Beach for a bird sanctuary.

The two sold their properties to reinvest in Waterloo, hoping to resurrect the lively downtown of their youth and revive its tight-knit community. The buildings they saved from demolition include the Black's building, the River Plaza building, the Gasser building, and the Winterbottom building, as well as the Waterloo Fruit Company and the Illinois Central Depot on the East Side.

Vern and Donna loved entertaining and hosted many great parties throughout the years. They held the first-ever fundraiser for Senator Charles Grassley at their home.

An avid pilot, Vern flew his family and friends on adventures throughout the country in his Cessna 182 and Piper Tri-Pacer. He loved tennis and played well into his 80s with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Vern won many trophies in Waterloo, Northeast Iowa, and Sunnyside Country Club and built a tennis court in his yard for his family and neighbors to use. He was a chocolate connoisseur who made world-famous hot fudge despite being allergic to chocolate.

A lifelong lover of poetry, he was able to recite the poems he learned in grade school well into old age. His favorite poem was "The Bridge Builder," about an old man who builds bridges not for himself but for the next generations. Last year, at 90 years old, he recited the poem to his 92-year-old sister, Betty Stanford.

Vern was the steadying influence in the family. He was a great wit and humorist who would make strangers feel like friends and friends feel like relatives. He approached life with dignity and charm. Vern enjoyed traveling, but he loved his community more, and he never lived outside of Waterloo. And, of course, he was always in great shape for the shape he was in.

Vern is survived by his children, Verner Donald Nelson Jr. of Waterloo, Lisa (Robert) Nelson Mitrovich of Los Angeles, and Elizabeth (David) Nelson O'Malley of Waterloo; grandchildren, Verner Donald Nelson III of Waterloo, Nonalee O'Malley of Panama City, FL, Jameson Mitrovich of Washington, D.C., Reggie O'Malley of Waterloo, Jill (Ryan) Vaassen of Dubuque, and Brooke O'Malley of Dubuque; great-grandchildren, Isabella Nelson, Verner Donald Nelson IV, Blake O'Malley, Connor Mills, Kamryn Mills, Brynnleigh Vaasen, Brycen Hein, and Landon Schiesl; brothers-in-law, George (Mary Ellen) Warren of Waterloo and Wm. Michael Kennedy of Wellsburg; sister-in-law, Sandra Warren of Waterloo; and many other family members and friends.

Vern was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; his parents, Joseph Robert and Agnes Eldonia Maher Nelson; his mother and father-in-law, Irwin Diamond Warren and Euphrasia "Fran" Walburga Marsili Warren; daughter-in-law, Jody Westemeier Nelson; brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Jane Nelson; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Ray Stanford; sister-in-law, Deborah Warren Kennedy; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen and Robert Molinaro; brother-in-law, John Warren; nephews, Henry Molinaro and John Bergstrom; and niece, Terri Tate.

Services pending: Friday, June 27, 4:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Waterloo, Iowa.

Condolences

Vern is missed and the world has lost one of its cheeleaders. Always happy with a bright outlook on life.

George Warren

Jim and I were thrilled to find Vernie's obituary tonight. Such an extraordinarily fine family man, fine booster for Waterloo, and fine classmate for those of us who graduated from East High in 1954. Vernie is complete once more with his forever sweetheart Donna.

Virginia/Ginger and Jim Young

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