Barbara Ann Nelson - Obituary

Barbara Ann Nelson was born on November 27, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Frances McCormick Nelson and Carl F. Nelson. She died on March 7, 2017 at a care center near her home in Woodland Hills, California.

At the age of nine Barbara moved with her family to a farm east of Lewellen, Nebraska.

Barb attended school in District 45 and Lewellen Rural High School. She graduated in 1948 and was the recipient of a Regent Scholarship offered by the University of Nebraska.

While attending Nebraska Wesleyan University, Barb was honored with a theater award similar to today’s Oscar for her role as a gun totin’ mountain woman in one of the campus productions. During her sophomore year she received the popular title of Ideal Plainswoman.

After graduation from Wesleyan, Barb moved to California where she worked for 10 years as a film editor for Rocketdyne Company. She changed careers and started teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District as a second grade teacher and later as a special needs teacher working with children with physical handicaps.

Barbara liked hobbies. She fished with her dad at Blue Creek. She was a skilled amateur photographer, very good at drawing and water color painting. She loved watching live theater and movies. She started a donut business traveling to flea markets, shopping malls and appropriate places for setting up her donut machine.

She took time for travel. For six months she toured Europe by car and also camped her way to Alaska with her friend, Barb Falconer.

Barbara delighted in making people laugh even when she didn’t know them. She cared passionately for her family, friends and pets and gave generously to all. She loved giving “smack attacks” to her nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sarah Lynn.

Barbara is survived by her good friend, Barb Falconer, a sister, Beverly Dehning (Lyle), brother-in-law, Eric Eisenhart, nephews: Craig Dehning (Kerry), Bruce Dehning, (Katerina), Lance Dehning (Kristeen), Mark Eisenhart (Marilyn) and Chris Eisenhart (Bridget) Also, other generation nieces and nephews, Ethan, Everett, Christi (Jarred), Matt, Katerina, Michaela, Malaysia, Savana, Oakley, Emma and Anne. Also, her loving neighbors Caitlin Jacobsen and Karen Kragen and their families.

A graveside service will be held on May 28th, 2017 at the Ash Hollow Cemetery off Highway 26 near Lewellen, Nebraska at 12:15 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to The Lewellen Fire Department at 211 Main St. Lewellen, Nebraska.