Mary Jo Nelson, daughter of George and Mary (Heggemeyer) Mellick, was born September 2, 1937 at Battle Creek, NE. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, NE, attended a Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Norfolk High School with the class of 1955. She also attended business school in Omaha, NE

On April 15, 1961, she was united in marriage to Fred J. Nelson at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Norfolk, NE. To this union, four children were born. The couple made their home on a farm south of Oakdale, NE where Mary Jo was a housewife and helped her husband on the farm.

Mary Jo was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin; volunteering as a Sunday School Superintendent and Sunday School Teacher. She was also a member of her neighborhood Sew-n-Sew Club.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband Fred of Oakdale; three children: Randy Nelson and wife Diane of Oakdale, NE; Ron Nelson of Omaha, NE; Karen Cronk and husband Alan of Page, NE; seven grandchildren: Chad, Aaron, Hanna and Levi Cronk; Kayla and Amy Nelson; Connor Nelson; one brother: Charles Mellick and wife Mary Jo of Millard, NE; one uncle: Vic Heggemeyer of Battle Creek, NE.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Jo Ellen Nelson, grandparents, aunts and uncles.