Leon Allen Nelson

Leon Allen. Nelson of Newman Grove, NE passed peacefully at home on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the age of 78.

Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, NE, with Pastor Becky Beckmann officiating. Inurnment will be at Hope Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be 5:00- 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Levander Funeral Home of Newman Grove is in charge of arrangements.

Leon was born on April 24, 1945, in St Edward, NE, to Eudell Leon and Gwendolyn Arlene (Johnson) Nelson. He attended grade school at District 68 and High School at Newman Grove, graduating in 1963.  He farmed with his dad upon graduation.

In 1967 he married his high school sweetheart, DeAnn K. Hallgren, on October 21, 1967, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Newman Grove.

In 1969, they welcomed their first son, Cory Allen, followed by their second son, Ross Allen, in 1974, and their only daughter, Kelli Dee, in 1978.

Leon joined the United States Army in 1966 and was honorably discharged in 1971. He was on the Newman Grove school board from 1980-1990, the church council, and on the Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home board for several years.   Leon was a consistent man of faith as a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Newman Grove.

Leon made a career of farming.  He had a fondness of the outdoors, the sound of a John Deere tractor, and found joy in joking around with friends and loved ones. He valued history & creating memories with his family, children, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren.  For hobbies, he was a sharp blue rock shooter, a patient fisherman, and an avid conversationalist at his home and the local coffee shop.  He welcomed company any time.

As his family grew, he was always a number one fan of his children and grandchildren's' activities.  He never gave up trying to stay on the go.

Leon is survived by his loving wife, DeAnn; sons: Cory, wife Beth of Newman Grove; Ross, wife Amy of Newman Grove, and daughter Kelli, husband Wes of Kearney;  grandchildren: Brooke (Nelson) Vincent, husband Ben, of Marquette; Megan (Nelson) Guenther, husband Jonathan, of Lincoln; Drew Samuelson of Kearney; Payton, Paige, Mason & Riley Nelson of Newman Grove; and Aiden, Alyse and Ethan Molczyk of Kearney; great grandchildren: Luxley & River Vincent; brothers: Ralph and Dwayne Nelson & families; along with many other relatives and friends.

He is met in heaven by his parents Eudell & Gwendolyn Nelson, his in-laws Glenn & Kathleen "Katie" Hallgren, and granddaughter Alyshia (Nelson) Samuelson.