Marlene Nelson

Marlene Nelson, 88, of Canton, Minn., (formerly of Harmony), passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the Gundersen HealthCare Center in Harmony, Minn. 

Lois Marlene McDowell was born August 22, 1937, in Lanesboro, Minn., to Leland (Mac) and Meda (Harland) McDowell, their only child. Her family always called her Marlene, and she didn’t know her first name was Lois until she started kindergarten. She attended Harmony schools, graduating in 1955. Marlene worked at the drive-in root beer stand in Harmony as a car hop, serving food to customers while wearing roller skates. She then lived in Spring Grove, working at a factory there. 

She met Marvin Nelson, and they got married on February 8, 1964, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco, Iowa. They lived in Pepin, Wis., for a short while before moving back to the Harmony and Canton area, living in Harmony since 1987. After Marvin passed away in 2012, she continued living in Harmony for a few years, then lived at Spring Grove Manor for a short time before moving to Canton Manor in 2021. Marlene worked at multiple factories before working at Loving Touch in Decorah, Iowa, as a home health aide for about 10 years before her retirement. She babysat most of her grandchildren and enjoyed attending their school concerts as well as other activities they were involved in. 

Marlene was a diehard NASCAR fan from the very beginning, with Cal Yarborough, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Sr. being a few of her favorites. She never missed a race, either watching it on TV or listening to the radio. You did not interrupt her during race time!! She enjoyed attending music concerts and festivals, including Country Fest in Cadott, Wis., and Country Jam in Eau Claire, Wis. This past February, she attended the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, featuring Chubby Checker, The Duprees and other artists. She met Ritchie Valens’ sister as well as Austin Allsop (son of Tommy Allsop from Buddy Holly’s band, The Crickets). In June, she rode the Lady of the Lake paddleboat in Clear Lake, Iowa. She was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in August and a benign brain tumor in September.

Surviving are her six children: Darcy (Marty) Kvam, Harmony; Darin (Bev Phillips) Nelson, Mabel; Derek (Tracy) Nelson, Houlton, Wis.; Duane Nelson, Mabel; Darla (Joel) Krutsinger, Mason City, Iowa; and Danny Nelson, Onalaska, Wis.; stepson Daryl Brandt, Signal Hill, Calif.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Andy (Danielle) Kvam and William, Desiree (Nathan) Yarbrough and Hayden and Wesley, Devin (Andrew) Knickerbocker and Ashton and twins Brianna and Grayson, Katelyn Warford and son Jack, Kelsey (Jacob) Thomas and Lochlan and Charlotte (March 2026), and Karly Krutsinger. 

Preceding her in death were her parents Leland (Mac) and Meda McDowell, husband Marvin, great-granddaughter Mackenzie Kvam, and stepdaughter-in-law Virginia Brandt.

A celebration of life and burial will be held in the summer 2026.  Condolences may be left at Lindstromfuneralhomes.com. Schmelzer Funeral Home in Harmony, formerly Lindstrom Funeral Home, is assisting the family with arrangements.