Nels Nordblad

Nels Arthur (Art) Nordblad, the son of Nana and Carl Nordblad, was born July 2, 1923 on a farm near Ruthven, Iowa. He was baptized in Spencer Swedish Lutheran Church and confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven. Art attended rural school No. 7 through eighth grade near Ruthven. In 1944 Nels enlisted in the Army. He served two years in the 25th Infantry Division in Camp Hood, Texas. He was sent to the Philippines. He served in the Infantry of the Occupational Army in Japan. Returning home he worked two years in Seattle and Renton, Washington area. His love of Iowa and farm life brought him back to Ruthven. June 17, 1951 Art married Viola Krogh at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer. Following their marriage, they started farming near Dickens, Iowa, moving on to Webb and Lake Center area. They farmed for 20 years, loving the life of fulfilling his dream of working the ground, milking cows and raising a family of three girls, Linda, Diana, and Marcia. Nels and Viola retired from farming in 1975, moving to the lakes region. He retired again from McQways at age 62 in 1984. Art was a member of the American Legion Post 384Milford for 62 years and also the Spencer VFW. He loved his family and their accomplishments, and never forgot his Swedish heritage. He was a proud father and grandfather. Art , age 88, passed away September 21, 2011 at the Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Viola; daughters Linda (David) Walkinshaw, Richmond, Texas, Diana (Dennis) Kies, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Marcia (Kevin) Berry, Grantsburg, Wisconsin; grandchildren Ervin and Shannon Walkinshaw, Alan Kies, Rochelle Zempel, Kevin and Richard Berry; great-grandchild Kaleb Walkinshaw; brother Oscar Nordblad, Milford, Iowa, sister Helen Phillips, Davenport, Washington. Art was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ervin Nordblad and nephew Danny Nordblad.