Mary Elizabeth Nelson

Mary Elizabeth Nelson was born to Ella (Taylor) and Joseph Meisenbach on July 23, 1931 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She attended school at Des Moines Township Consolidated School in Rolfe, Iowa where she graduated with the class of 1949.

On September 4, 1950, Mary was united in marriage to Clifford Howard Wiig at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Rolfe, Iowa. To this union, five children were born: Richard, Ronald, Barbara, Robert and Roger. They made their home on a farm west of Fiscus, Iowa. Mary began working at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa. Mary later remarried Elmer Laverne Nelson on December 20, 1976 by the Justice of the Peace in Atlantic, Iowa. They lived on the farm near Irwin for many years until Laverne moved to live at Salem Lutheran Home.

In her free time, Mary loved to spend time outdoors. She enjoyed gardening and bird watching. She was also an avid reader. Mary was very active in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. She also stayed busy being apart of AWANA and was an active member of her church and lead many bible studies.

Mary passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa attaining the age of 95 years, 1 month and 16 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Ella Meisenbach; husband, E. Laverne Nelson; son, Ronald Wiig; and sister, Josephine Triplett.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Richard (Renae) Wiig of Irwin, IA, Barbara (Mark) Kanne of Des Moines, Iowa, Robert (Denise) Wiig of Irwin, IA, and Roger (Michele) Wiig of Watertown, SD; 9 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; Laverne’s children, Paul & Joanne Nelson of Irwin, IA, Randall & Joan Watson-Nelson Nelson of Irwin, IA, Debbie &Tom Scott of Smyrna, TN; other relatives and friends.