Mary Compas Nelson

Mary Compas Nelson, 100 of Joy, died Monday, July 18, 2011 at the Mercer County Nursing Home. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 AM at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. Burial will be in New Boston Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Mary Nelson Memorial Fund. Mary Compas was born on October 10, 1910 in Nekoma, Illinois to Antonio and Mary (Delgado) Compas. She was educated in New Boston Schools and was a graduate of the Eastern Iowa Community College of Nursing in 1965. Mary married Edward Nelson on November 7, 1935. From this union, 6 children were born. They later divorced. Ed preceded Mary in death. Mary was an LPN with both the VA Hospital in Iowa City and Mercy Hospital, Davenport. Mary was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Aledo. She enjoyed crocheting, reading and working outdoors. Mary enjoyed dancing in her earlier years. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who cherished the time spent with family. Those left to cherish Mary’s memory include her children and their spouses: Arthur “Sonny” & Carol Nelson of Montour, IA; Stanley “Twerp” & Pam Nelson of Viola; Thomas Nelson of Joy; Elaine & Kenneth Dixon of Joy and Betty Thompson of Viola; 16 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; 3 sisters: Bessie Ramsey of New Boston; Josephine Hillbert of Moline and Juanita “Teenie” Wheeler of Milan. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Donald “Butch” Nelson; a son-in-law: Darrell Thompson and 2 brothers: Frank and John Compas.