Nelson, Lawrence Earl "Corky" passed away on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the age of 85 at Villa Health Care Center in Mora, Minnesota.

Corky was born on May 31, 1924 in Ogilvie, Minnesota; the youngest of three children of John (Henry) Nelson and Ellen Lavina (Mick) Nelson.

Growing up, Corky helped his father operate the family's farm in Ogilvie, and moved to the family's homestead in Mora in 1941. He graduated from Mora High School in 1942 and started at the University of Minnesota's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science that fall.

Corky enlisted in the Army in June of 1943 and served his country in the infantry as a specialty gunner in Europe during WWII, earning three Bronze Stars for heroic, meritorious achievement.

After his tour of duty, Corky re-enrolled at the U of M and graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education.

Corky met and courted Jewel Marie Sampson of Mora during his later years in college and they were married March 21, 1948.

Corky began a 34-year teaching career at Mora High School in 1949, teaching Earth Science, Agriculture, and FFA and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Science Education in 1965.

On the family farm in Mora, he raised dairy and beef cattle, oxen, pigs and sheep. In addition to teaching and farming, he also was involved with the Kanabec County Fair Board, Kanabec County Conservation Club, Onanegozie, American Legion, Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA), and the Kanabec County Soil and Water Conservation Board.

For 25 years, Corky showed teams of oxen pulling a covered wagon; a team of 20 goats pulling a cart; a team of llamas; and a team of mules in parades throughout the Midwest. The fall always found him in the woods, deer hunting with friends from school and his sons.

Corky was preceded in death by his parents John Henry in November 1952, Ellen in March 1953, sisters, Margaret Ostman in the summer of 2003 and Virginia Nelson in the fall of 2004.

He is survived by Jewel Nelson, his loving wife of 61years; children Shirley Vedder of Minneapolis, Henry (Kathy) Nelson of Minnetonka, Paul (Carol) Nelson of Bemidji, and Greg (Julie) Nelson of Mora; 9 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren, and his Laplander Shih Tzu, Topper.

True to his beliefs and passion of teaching and the sciences, he decided long ago to donate his body to the University of Minnesota Science Department for research.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church in Mora with Rev. Douglas Larson officiating. Music will be provided by Betty Smith. Honorary Casketbearers are Karl Dies, Don Kaddatz, Russ Mills, Dick Smith, John Sandy and Keith Lester. Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 5 until 7 P.M. at Dresser-Methven Funeral Home as well as one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors are being provided by the Mora American Legion Post 201. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements by Dresser-Methven Funeral Home.