Wayne E. Nelsen

Wayne E. Nelsen, died Wed., Dec. 3, 2014 at North Central Health Care Center, Wausau, Wis.

Wayne was born in Northfield, Minn. on Dec. 29, 1942.  He graduated from Northfield Sr. High School in 1960.  Wayne joined the U.S. Navy shortly after his graduation, attending boot camp in San Diego, Calif. then being stationed in Key West, Fla., Morocco (where he met his wife, Judy), and in Norfolk, Va.  He was honorably discharged in December of 1963.  Wayne and Judy then settled in Northfield.  Wayne soon, thereafter, enrolled in and graduated from Minneapolis School of Barbering and was a barber for several years.  When the barbering business slowed in his Northfield community, Wayne became a chemical plant operator at N-Ren Corporation, South St. Paul until August 1983.  In 1983 Wayne accepted a position with Cabela's outdoor catalog company in Sidney.  He worked for Cabela's corporate offices until his retirement as Senior Merchandising Manager of Cabela's fly and saltwater fishing division in May of 2003.

Wayne and his wife, Judy, spent their first four years of retirement in Rhinelander, Wis.  In August, 2007, they moved to Mountain Home, Ark., living there until their return to Wisconsin in June of 2012.  They have since resided in Wausau.

Wayne's passions were fishing and hunting, but for many of his adult years he also enjoyed playing softball, bowling, and some years of playing ice hockey.  Wayne much enjoyed his employment with Cabela's, as it afforded him opportunities to travel, as well as to fish and hunt in many parts of the United States and overseas.  Wayne enthusiastically shared his expertise in fly fishing with many friends and family, and has left a legacy that will be remembered by all who knew him, both personally and professionally.  He will be greatly missed.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Judy (Ingram); three children, Bruce W. Nelsen, Joyce R. Graham, and Beverly M. Nelsen; daughter-in-law, Shelly; nine grandchildren; and his two brothers, Kenneth M. Nelsen and Steve J. Nelsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Murlin H. "Lefty" Nelsen and Kathryn (Simpson) Nelsen.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Mon., Dec. 8, 2014 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1008 No. 120th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401.  Visitation will take place at the church from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday.                    

Memorials may be directed to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd. SW, Lilburn, GA 30047; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1008 No. 120th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401; or Legacies By the Lake Dementia Care, 1100 Lakeview Drive, Wausau, WI 54403.

Condolences may be given at http://www.brainardfuneral.com

The family would like to thank Legacies of the Lake Dementia Care at North Central Health Care Center for the phenomenal compassion and attention provided to Wayne during his stay.