Susan M. Nelson, 85, of Fairfield, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2026 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

     Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 27, 2026 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Ross Epping as celebrant. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Evergreen Cemetery. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is caring for Sue and her family.

     Sue was born May 26, 1941 in Fairfield, the daughter of John F, Jr. and Ethel (Little) Murphy. Sue graduated from Fairfield High School in 1959. On September 26, 1959 at St. Mary Catholic Church, she married Marvin L. “Pete” Nelson.

     Sue worked in accounting as a billing clerk at Universal Producing in Fairfield until Pete founded The Nelson Company, where she served as office manager and corporate secretary until her retirement. Sue was an active member of the Fairfield Trojans Booster club, receiving the honorary distinction of “Mrs. Trojan” for her many years of volunteerism. She was an avid bowler, brief golfer, and enjoyed boating, reading, crossword puzzles, sitting on the beach, and playing Pitch at the family cabin along the Des Moines River.

     Sue and Pete loved traveling, visiting all but five states; going on cruises to Ireland, the Baltic Sea, East and West parts of the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Alaska. They especially loved their trips in their plane with Pat and Karl Rud to Alaska, and Neil and Karen Crossland to Key West. Sue and Pete enjoyed wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, entertaining family and friends.

     Sue was active in The Elks during Pete’s time on the board of the local, state, and national lodge. She served as hostess for luncheons and entertainment for the wives of current and past Exalter Rulers and board members at the local, state, and national levels.

     Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Marvin L. “Pete” Nelson; children, Tami (Tom) Plein of Burlington, Janice (Craig) Kaufman of Lockridge, and Mike (Jodi) Nelson of Pella; grandchildren, Adam (Kahri) Plein, Whitney (Blake) McWilliams, Brice (Kayla) Plein, C.J. (Kaitlin Melcher) Kaufman, Mitchell Nelson, Mallory Nelson, and Westin Nelson; great-grandchildren, Aila, Kaya, Baker, Beckett, and Brooks; siblings, Pat (Karl) Rud and Jim Murphy III; in-laws, Larry Newlon, Wilma and Ernie McCreedy, and Ronne Holt; many nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Karla Ferrel.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, and her favorite aunt and uncle, Ruth and Floyd Nedderman.