Pat Nelson

Patricia Kay Nelson, 84, entered eternal rest on January 6, 2023 at her home in Winterset, Iowa. She was the mother of three adopted and one biological child and because of her kind and gentle heart, there were numerous others who adopted her, and called her their mother or grandmother.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 13, also at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Burial will take place at a later date in the Winterset Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be donated to the Patricia and James Nelson Endowment Fund.

Pat was born to Dan and Marie Stowell Ryan on April 19, 1938. She had two sisters, Betty and Joye. The three talented women sang as the Ryan Sisters Trio for many years for town celebrations, weddings, funerals, and other community events. Pat continued singing as a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church choir for 62 years, as well as many other occasions when asked.

Pat graduated in 1956 from Prescott High School, and then went to college at Commercial Extension in Omaha, NE, where she received an Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Science. After College, she moved to Iowa City and started working as Secretary to the Treasurer of the University of Iowa. In 1957, Pat married Jim Nelson, her high school sweetheart. At that time, Jim was a pharmacy student at the University of Iowa, and Pat worked hard to finance his last two years of college. They had recently celebrated their 65th anniversary last August. After Jim graduated, they moved to Winterset, IA and there, Pat worked as a secretary for several years for Winterset’s Department of Human Services, before moving on in the advertising department at the Madisonian newspaper.

In the late 60’s, Pat encouraged Winterset to form a group to celebrate the Madison County Covered Bridges, thus, starting the Covered Bridge Festival. Pat created the advertising for the festival, and many of the events for the celebration were her ideas, such as the Spelling Bee, King and Queen, local talent on the courthouse steps, and the demonstrations of “life in the 1800’s.”

Her next adventure was “Pat’s Ideas and Images.” She did copywriting, advertising and promotions for local companies and retail stores. She also sold advertising novelties, such as hats, pens and personalized gifts for Newton Manufacturing through her company.

Pat organized a group of locals to form a community theatre called the Apple Tree Players that performed many musicals and plays in town. She then coordinated a group called “Festivals of Iowa,” which helped Iowa towns celebrate their history and promote tourism in Iowa.

Her next endeavor was her business “Married in Madison County,” celebrating the book “The Bridges of Madison County.” She offered her services to plan and organize 480 weddings at the bridges. Pat also formed the committee to plan and celebrate Winterset’s Sesquicentennial Celebration and served as a chairperson for that committee. Her most recent accomplishment was the formation of the “Women’s Giving Circle.” This group now has over 130 members and has raised over $250,000 for women and children in Madison County.

Pat was very active in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She taught the Family to Family course in Winterset and Des Moines, supporting families with mental illness in the home. Pat was a good listener for those with mental health issues, touching many lives with her love and compassion.

Pat always had a passion for promoting Winterset and Madison County. She had enjoyed being a ‘step-on tour guide’ for the Chamber of Commerce, giving guided tours on busses, to show the parks and other historical sites in Madison County. In 1981, Pat was the first female to receive the “Citizen of the Year” award from the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, and then in 2008, she received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for the many contributions she gave to the community throughout the years.

For 50 years, Pat was a very active member of Chapter AG, P.E.O., having been a past president as well as holding several offices. She served on several committees, and especially took great pleasure in helping women receive low-interest loans to continue their education.

Pat was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, singing in the choir for 62 years. She served on the Church Council, which included being appointed Council President. She was Chairperson of the Memorial Fund Committee, and was a member of the Worship Committee for several years.

Pat was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to so many. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Jim; her sister, Joye (Bob) Morey; daughter, Stephne Nelson; sons, James Scott (George) Nelson and Ryan (Maggie) Nelson; grandchildren, Ashley Nelson, Bill (Marina) Landis, Daniel (Sarah) Landis, Haley Stonebarger, Colton Stonebarger and James M. Nelson; and two great-grandchildren, Alyssa (Ashley) Nelson and Natalia (Bill) Landis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Betty Crill; and her daughter, Kirsten Nelson.