Student Memories of the Nelsons

The Nelson Girls - Annabeth (Bonnesen) ‘86, Chloe (Yoder) ‘88, Nia (Schulte) ‘89 & Nicole (Wilson) ’93

We lived the “dream”, having our parents for teachers in JH! Seriously though, although we did get a little grief, it was mostly a positive experience. Our parents were well liked and respected as teachers. We remember Dad’s dedication in the gym every morning working on free throws with the basketball boys, his motivational quotes in gym class (“You’re a champ, not a chump!”) and of course, his very strong commitment to safety in his shop. In addition to teaching math, Mom was one of the early pioneers into the “new world” of computers at Mid-Prairie, and she loved being on the cutting edge of the “new frontier”. She had a huge heart for her students and many seemed to be drawn to her for help or advice. Dad and Mom were both champions at encouraging students and building them up! The hundreds of students and athletes over the decades had a great impact on Dad and Mom as well. Still today they are thrilled when they run into a former student. We were blessed to grow up in this community and to have “Mr. and Mrs. Nelson” as “Mom and Dad”!

Meg

I remember Mr. Nelson in shop class – he was the most encouraging teacher ever. He never seemed to get too worked up about anything, and I’m sure there was LOTS to get worked up about with a bunch of pre-teen kids using power tools! To this day when I see him, he remembers or introduces me as “one of his finest students”, although I’m pretty sure I was one of the worst at building things from wood. The two of them together were the perfect dream team!

Lacey

Jerry and Pam have always been warm and welcoming! I can’t recall a time I ever saw them without smiles. They were caring teachers who clearly put all of themselves into their students’ safety and success.

When we moved to Wellman in 1978, we got “hooked” on the Nelsons the first evening they invited us down for a simple soup supper and to watch the Muppets, eat popcorn and play board games! Pam and her girls gave a baby shower for our first daughter, Tiffany Curtis Strande ‘99, so the junior high female staff could meet her. Pam always decorated cute birthday cakes for her girls and got Becky doing it – we’ve both continued making cakes for our “grands”! We used to get together for DIY banana splits the night before the first day of school each fall. When Pam and Becky were “track widows”, we would load all our daughters in one of our vans with a picnic supper and drive to away meets to cheer on our husbands’ junior high boys and girls track teams. (Mid-Prairie only had a grass track at the junior high and a cinder track at the high school back then, so all meets were away.) Through the years, we have enjoyed countless fun times together – swimming, go-carting, carpetball, hot dogs & s’mores, golf, concerts, plays, July 4ths, a Branson trip, exchanging plants/flowers/garden produce and fishing! Jerry especially loves to tell about the time he and

Gary went fishing in Jerry’s canoe on the English River, and Gary fell in. We have remained good friends with Jerry, Pam and their four girls to this day – still exchanging Christmas letters and poems!

Jerry – CUBS fan extraordinaire; competitive – will not “let” anyone win; fair – treats everyone the same; life is an open book – tells funny, embarrassing tales about himself; builder and giver of beautiful wooden projects; children’s sermons – children and adults engaged and listening raptly; child at heart – children are drawn to him; loves all sports – still plays basketball most Saturday mornings at the “Y”! Pam – Christmas poems; draws and paints; church choir director – created a lovely choir out of a “mishmash” of people and talent; plays organ or piano when regular accompanist is absent; leads songs using a microphone; organizes annual programs for Garden Club and Friendly Circle; good cook – shares recipes; grows and shares beautiful flowers and vegetables; animal lover – feeds birds, adopted a stray cat, “Miss Kitty”, and “dog-sits” for her daughters! Both together – loving parents and grandparents; take fun, amazing trips; reliable – if they agree to do something it will be done well and on time; act out stories for Vacation Bible School; friendly and kind – everyone is truly a child of God in their eyes; genuine – no false pretenses; gracious hosts – invite others over for meals, cookies, coffee, tea; best friends – play games with each other and collaborate on projects – including the Little Church Library outside Asbury Methodist in Wellman – Jerry constructed it and Pam painted a representation of Asbury’s large stained glass window on the little church!

“Now you know from A to Z the Nelsons’ lasting legacy!

Jer coached and taught PE and shop; Pam introduced Apple desktops! Kids published Hawk’s Eye student news & learned math facts with Pam’s ‘how tos’!

Jerry golfs and visits the “Y”; Pam walks and gardens, age to defy!

They do projects and serve their church, and help folks who are ‘in the lurch’!

They’ve done so much for Mid-Prairie, their church, and their community! From former students they’d love to hear, whether you live far or near!”

Jerry & Pam Nelson 105 Fairview Drive Wellman, IA 52356