Third Generation

18. Edith Louise BIEGEL was born on 29 March 1927 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^7,21 She died on 20 September 2014 at the age of 87 in Stillwater, Washington County, MN.²¹

Obituary Notes: "Long-time Tomah resident Edith Louise Nelson (Mrs. Tom Nelson), 87, died Sept. 20, 2014, at Golden Living-Linden Care Center in Stillwater, Minn. Edith was born March 29, 1927, in Tomah, to Richard and Regina (Hammen) Biegel. She was the eldest of nine children born to that family. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Tomah and was a 1944 graduate of Tomah Senior High.

She was united in marriage to Thomas Nelson, of Shennington, Wis., June 30, 1946, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Shennington), and together, over the course of their 52-year marriage, they raised six children together. Edith worked as co-owner and secretary for the family business, Nelson’s Plumbing & Electric, for 45 years before retiring in 1991. Prior to marriage, she worked at the (then) Camp McCoy Post Office.

She will long be remembered for her strong faith in God. She was a faithful and devoted member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Shennington and later the Gloria Dei (ELCA) Lutheran Church of Tomah. She served as a second grade Sunday school teacher for more than 25 years. Any child that had the opportunity to have her as a Sunday school teacher most certainly memorized the bible verse, John 3:16. Preferring not to be the center of attention, Edith quietly served in several organizations and clubs including the Miriam Women’s Bible Circle; WI Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association-Ladies Auxiliary and 4-H. Her hobbies included gardening and sewing. She was an excellent cook, baker, home-canner and mother. She passed these passions on to her grateful children. She enjoyed traveling and was able to take several international trips with her husband to places such as Israel, Germany, Scandinavia, Scotland, New Zealand and China.

Edith is survived by her six children, LaVerne (Darlene) Nelson of Tomah, LaVonne Mackin of DeForest, Wis., Gary (Peggy) Nelson of La Crescent, Minn., Jean (Tom) Groppoli of Stillwater, Nancy Bremmer of Cary, N.C., and Kathleen Nelson of Madison, Wis.; nine grandchildren, Brian (Christine) Nelson, Michael (Kasey Randorf) Nelson, Edward (Melissa) Mackin, DJ Mackin, Joseph (Cheryl) Mackin, Julia (Tom) Weaver, Teri Nelson, Greg Groppoli and Anna Groppoli; nine great-grandchildren, Kailey, Jennah, Jade, Jacob, McKenzie, Kevin, Lacie, Karson and Karter; siblings, Grace Darlene Bennett, George (Evelyn) Biegel, Lea Perron and Judy (Leroy) Perez. She is also survived by many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two grandsons, Christopher Mackin and Timothy Nelson; brother, Robert; and sisters, Irma Schmitz, Emma Anderson and Doris Mae Nydahl; brothers-in-law, Robert Schmitz, Robert Bennett, Pete Nydahl, Sr., Lloyd Perron, Aton Olsen and Peter Christensen; and sister-in-law, Dorothy (Nelson) Olsen.

Edith will be missed and remembered in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Tomah. Pastor Dave Dahl will officiate. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Visitation will also be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church."

Edith Louise BIEGEL and Thomas NELSON were married on 30 June 1946 in Shennington, Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.²¹ Thomas NELSON was born (date unknown).

Edith Louise BIEGEL and Thomas NELSON had the following children:

LaVonne "Sam" NELSON was born on 8 January 1949 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²² She died on 5 March 2015 at the age of 66 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²

Obituary Notes: "LaVonne “Sam” E. Mackin, 66, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2015, surrounded by family at Agrace Hospice. She was born Jan. 8, 1949, in Tomah, the daughter of Thomas and Edith (Biegel) Nelson.

Sam graduated from Tomah High School in 1967, and worked at UW Hospital as a Health Unit Coordinator and also served as president for the UW Union Local 1942. She loved dancing, enjoyed crafting- especially crocheting and cross stitch, but truly treasured most the time she spent with her family, friends and her much loved grandchildren.

Sam is survived by her children, Ed (Melissa,) DJ (Dana,) Joe (Cheryl,) Julia (Thomas) Weaver; grandchildren, Jennah, Jade, Jacob, Holly, Kevin, Makenzie and Kailey; her grand dog, Daisy; and her siblings, Vern (Darlene) Nelson, Gary (Peggy) Nelson, Nancy (Hans) Bremmer, Jean (Tom) Groppoli and Kathy Nelson.

She was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Allen Mackin; and her parents.
Funeral services were 11 a.m. Monday, March 9, at Burke Lutheran Church, 5720 Portage Road, Madison, with the Revs. Robert Neubert and Ron Strobel presiding. Burial will be in St. Luke’s Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation was from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Care, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, and also from 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday at the church."