Judith Nelson

Judith E. Nelson, age 86, died Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Genoa Community Hospital.

Funeral services 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Genoa. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Monday at the church. Burial is in West Hill Cemetery.

Judith "Judy" Eldene (Johnson) Nelson, was born October 4th, 1938, in Norton, KS, to Francis (FB) and Erma (Garton) Johnson. She graduated from Danbury High School in 1956 with a graduating class of two where she played volleyball. She often reminded us volleyball looked very different back then!

She attended McCook College and Fort Hays State College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a National Honor Society. She taught for several years in the towns of Western and Platte Center.

Darrell and Judy met on a blind date by the NE State Capitol building for the NE State Fair Labor Day weekend 1962. They were united in marriage on November 17, 1963, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Genoa. They moved to the farm where she lived for 62 years. They raised two sons, John and Darren, who continue to farm their land today.

Judy was passionate about her music. She learned piano as a young girl. She dedicated over 50 years to music by singing in choir, accompanying worship services at Augustana and the Congregational Church. She also shared her talents at countless weddings, funerals, Genoa/Twin River concerts, and special events. She even played once at the Nebraska Synod Assembly in Kearney.

In addition to her love for music, she valued travel. Darrell and Judy enjoyed many national and international adventures together including (but not limited to) the countries of Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Vatican City. Judy did bus trips for about ten years following Darrell's death. Last year, she visited all 70 stops on the Nebraska Passport Program with one of her friends. She was proud to have visited 49 states, missing only Delaware.

Judy was a collector of history. She documented much of Darrell's and her family history. Judy was one of the creators of Augustana's 100th Anniversary History book. She was a volunteer for the Genoa Museum and Genoa Indian School and had recently been collecting spoons and postcards honoring the history of Genoa, Monroe, and Danbury in Nebraska and Kanona and Oberlin in Kansas. She was a member of the Genoa American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 144.

She enjoyed watching college sports, especially Husker volleyball. She enjoyed coffee with the coffee ladies every morning at the Great Plains Café. During Covid, her dear friend, Jean, and her started talking to each other on the phone every night at 7:00 p.m. that they're both home. She enjoyed watching the sunset from her porch.

Most importantly, Judy loved her grandchildren. She attended every sporting event, play, speech night, award night, or any opportunity to support her five grandchildren. She cared so deeply for them and spent a lot of time collecting newspaper clippings of them. Her family was the joy of her life.

Judy is survived by:

Son: John (Susan) Nelson of Monroe,

Son: Darren (Stacy) Nelson of St. Edward,

Grandchildren: Courtney (Chris), Andrew, Macy, Marshall, and Merritt

Sister-in-law: Helen Welin

Sister in law Janice Nelson

Judy is preceded in death by:

Husband: Darrell

Parents: Erma and Francis (FB)

In-laws: Elmer and Helga

Sister-in-law: Eunah Goering, Verna Wilke

Brother-in-law: Norman Nelson, Robert Nelson