Eric J. Nelson, 74, of Caledonia, passed away Sunday, November 26, 2023, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.
He was born to Jack and Margaret Nelson on Palm Sunday in Caledonia, where he would be raised and graduate from Caledonia High School. After high school, Eric enlisted in the Army. He went to Vietnam in 1969-1970, as a mechanic working on Huey helicopters.
During this time, Eric married Gail in April 1970, in Caledonia. They would move to live in Hanau, Germany, for a year, while he was stationed at Fliegerhorst Kaserne Army Base as an airplane mechanic.
After the Army, he farmed with his father-in-law Charles taking over the family farm. Eric loved farming, his cows, and fixing and working on things; whether it be a tractor or maintenance to the farm, he took pride in keeping the farm in order. He enjoyed the conversations with the regulars visiting and the employees he worked with, especially his hauling buddy, Richard. Eric farmed to the end, working with the calves and driving tractor. The most important thing to him was his family. Eric was proud his kids were taking over and lived so close. Nothing brought a bigger smile to his face than seeing the grandkids; wrestling with them on the floor, and talking Klingon to the little ones.
Eric was full of random information being an avid reader. Reading everything from farm magazines to National Geographic, his favorite being the Farmer’s Almanac. He loved all things about the sky; getting his pilot’s license and going on trips, star gazing, being able to tell you what the constellations were, taking the time to watch the sunrise after scraping the heifers in the morning, and knowing the phases of the moon. He had a full moon to greet him when he passed.
He always had some words of wisdom, or a useless fact for the day. His favorite saying: “Keep the bugs warm, and excuse me world.” Will be echoing on the farm.
Eric will be missed by his parents, Jack and Margaret Nelson; wife of 53 years, Gail; three kids: EJ (Tammy), Jessica (Dan) Sabelko of Elmwood, Wis., and Jennifer (Mark) Nutt; nine grandchildren: Alex, Wyatt, James, and Sloane Nelson, Andrew Sabelko, Aubree, Adelyn, Emma, and Nathaniel Nutt; siblings Mae Bubbers of La Crescent, Minn., Haze (Mike) Fisch of Stoughton, Wis., Lois (Tom) Wang of Thief River Falls, Minn., Mark Nelson of Peyton, Colo., Rose (Randy) Nelson of Vienna, Va., Tammy (Mark) Nelson of Minnetonka, Minn., Donna Nelson of Fredericksburg, Va., Carol Nelson of Prescott, Ariz., and Kathy Foldesi of Coon Rapids, Minn.; many nieces and nephews, in-laws Bob and Kathy Bubbers of Rock Falls, Ill., and Wayne and Janet Beyer of Lewiston, Minn.
He was preceded in death by in-laws Charles and Mildred Albee, Joanne and Nick Rice, and Charlie Bubbers; and an infant brother, Arlo.
A celebration of life will be held Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 2:-6 p.m., with a private family service at 1 p.m. at the Caledonia United Methodist Church.
Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia Chapel, is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be offered at www.FredricksonFuneralHomes.com.
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