Kenneth Nesset

Kenneth R. Nesset, age 95, of Decorah, IA, passed away Tuesday morning, November 28, 2017 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.       Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with Full Military Honors. A luncheon will follow at Decorah V.F.W. Post 1977 All Vets Club.        Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 13, one hour before the service, at Fjelstul Funeral Home. Kenneth Ralph Nesset was born March 25, 1922 in Decorah, Iowa, the son of Henry T. and Tilda “Tillie” C. (Anderson) Nesset.  He graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1940. Between his junior and senior year of high school, Ken spent the summer at the Army’s Citizen Military Training Camp at Fort Des Moines. He went to the camp with his childhood friend Lester Seim. He then enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940. Ken earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer on and was honorably discharged in 1961.  He was united in marriage with Vivian M. Johnson in 1942. They were blessed with 3 children, Bruce, Barbara, and Lynn.  They later divorced. Ken married Mary J. Russell, a Navy officer, on August 30, 1960 at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee.  After leaving the Navy, they moved to Decorah and Ken was hired as the Clerk of Court of Winneshiek County.  Ken retired in 1984 after working in that position for 23 years.  Mary passed away March 16, 2001.  Then he married Ruth B. (Fretheim) Ellingson on May 16, 2004.  Ruth passed away on November 16, 2014. Ken enjoyed gardening, planting, and the outdoors. He was a member of First Lutheran Church. Ken became a resident of Aase Haugen Senior Services on November 21, 2014.  Ken passed away there on Tuesday morning November 28, 2017 at age 95. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Tillie; his 3 wives, Vivian Johnson, Mary Nesset, and Ruth Ellingson Nesset; two brothers Arnold and Raymond Nesset; and two sisters, Dorothy Eanetta and Hazel Moen. Ken is survived by his three children: Bruce Nesset of Bement, IL, Barbara Moore of Vancouver, WA and Lynn Ferguson of Houston, TX; and five step-children: Laurie Cullen Christensen of Alexandria, VA, Lowell (Diane) Christensen of Round Rock, TX, VaLois (Orlin) Mandsager of Northfield, MN, Diane (Larry) Grimstad of Decorah, and Roxann (Mark) Steine of Cedar Rapids, IA; eight grandchildren: Susie Castle, Ryan (Amy) Christensen, Lori Behn, Megan Christensen, Jennifer Behn, Malinda Behn, Jeff Cullen and Debbie Cullen Thomas; and 24  great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Aase Haugen Senior Services, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101.