Representative Henry C. Nelson View All Years

HENRY C. NELSON

Mr. Speaker: Your committee appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Henry C. Nelson, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Henry C. Nelson was born in Hersey, Wisconsin on December 7, 1900, the son of Lars and Theoline Nelson.

Mr. Nelson moved with his parents when he was a small child to Hartford, South Dakota. He graduated from high school in Hartford and attended college in Spearfish, South Dakota. He worked for a telephone company in Hartford for several years and moved to Forest City in 1934 where he was employed by a utility company.

Mr. Nelson was the first president of the Forest City Development Inc. in 1956, was a Past Master of Truth Lodge No. 213, A.F. & A.M., a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge, the El Kahir Temple Shrine, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Forest City Rotary Club, the American Legion, V.F.W., was past President of the Forest City Chamber of Commerce and Moderator Emeritus of the First Congregational Church in Forest City.

During World War II he served in the United States Navy in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean areas. He returned to Forest City where for several years he worked in farm and general property management.

Mr. Nelson, a Winnebago County Republican, was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1954 and served during the Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth General Assemblies. He served as Speaker of the House for the Fifty-ninth General Assembly.

Mr. Nelson served as Winnebago County Auditor after his retirement from the legislature in 1964 until 1976.

Mr. Nelson died in Forest City on February 22, 1980, and is survived by two brothers, Roy Nelson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Clark Nelson of Newfield, New Jersey, and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hanna with whom Mr. Nelson lived since 1966.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Henry C. Nelson, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

CLIFFORD BRANSTAD

DELWYN STROMER

WILLIAM H. HARBOR

Committee