Audrey J. Nelson passed away peacefully on May 31, 2025, at Christian Community Homes of Osceola, Wisconsin. She was 90 years old. Audrey was born April 4, 1935, to Maynard and Alma (Peterson) Ekstrand in Dresser, Wisconsin. She was baptized and confirmed at the Osceola Methodist Church.
Audrey was raised on her parents’ farm five miles east of Osceola. It was here she learned to respect and love nature and animals, especially her quarter horse Daisy. She attended school in Osceola and graduated in 1953. She moved to Minneapolis where she was employed at the Minneapolis Star & Tribune.
In 1956, Audrey married her high school sweetheart, Gordon Nelson, at West Immanuel Lutheran Church. They were married for 66 years. They moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where Gordon enrolled at the University of Wisconsin. During this time Audrey worked at the 1st National Bank in River Falls and later at 3M in St. Paul. Upon Gordon’s graduation they moved to Washburn, Wisconsin, where he taught school.
In 1963, they moved to Horse Creek where they took over as third generation owners of the Horse Creek Store. Audrey and Gordon worked side by side at the store for 35 years. Audrey loved what she did and treated her customers as friends. This is where they raised their three children: Lori, Susan and Todd. They retired in 1997 and moved to rural Dresser where they delighted in being surrounded by animals and nature.
Audrey was a member of West Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she found special meaning in her active role in stewardship including work with the WELCA, Alter Guild, Circle and youth mentorship. She was also the secretary/treasurer for Pleasant Prairie Cemetery in Osceola for many years. During retirement she volunteered at Osceola Medical Center and was a member of the Partners of OMC. She tried to live her life by following Matthew 25:37-40. Audrey was a compassionate person and will be remembered for her kind heart. Her greatest joys were her children, grandchildren, great-grands and her husband’s sense of humor. She was an avid reader, loved history and her travels throughout all 50 states and Europe.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Nelson; parents, Maynard and Alma Ekstrand; brother, Roger Ekstrand; brothers-in-law, Larry Nelson, John Nelson and Stuart Nelson, Jim Moeller; and sister-in-law, Ruth Nelson.
Left to mourn her passing are children Lori Robinson, Susan (Jim) Hentges and Todd (Cindy) Nelson; grandchildren, Erica (Matt) Forsman, Paul (Ali) Hentges, Katelyn Hentges, Rachel Nelson, Alexa Hentges and Jack Nelson; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Henry Forsman and Miles Hentges; sisters-in-law, Darlene Ekstrand, Mary Nelson, Diane Moeller and Marilyn Nelson.
Special thanks to Christian Community Homes of Osceola and St. Croix Hospice for the loving care and support.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at West Immanuel Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 24, at the Grandstrand Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola. Condolences may be expressed online at grandstrandfh.com.
