Laverne Nelson, Sr.

Nelson, Sr., LaVerne "Worm"
Stoughton- LaVerne Clair "Worm" Nelson, Sr., age 82, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at his home in Stoughton, on Sunday, November 20, 2011. He was born in Edgerton on August 24, 1929, and was united in marriage to Elaine Vike in Dubuque, Iowa on October 27, 1951. Worm began his working career when he was 14, taking over his dad's Ice Truck route. At 17, he joined the Army and served with the 817th Engineers in Tokyo, Japan.
Worm returned to the states, married Elaine, worked road construction, became a semi-operator and raced stock cars. He was a proud member of the Operating Engineers Local 139 for 55 years. He worked as a pipeline superintendent. This work took him to jobs throughout the United States, including the Alaska pipeline, as well as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Worm enjoyed RVing with his wife after he retired. They spent winters in the Southwest, enjoying the warm weather and testing their luck at the casino.
Worm had a special gift of telling a compelling story. He entertained his family and friends with the grand stories of his life on the road driving semi and pipelining. His influence moved many of his family to follow in his pipelining footsteps. He will be truly missed by his family, friends, and his pipeline family.
He is survived by six children, LaVerne (Vickie) Nelson, Jr., Larry (Trudy) Nelson, Jayne (Bull) Mallon, Janis (Don) Bates, John Nelson, and Tom (Jennie) Nelson; 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Betty (Roland) Metzler, Chuck (Sue) Nelson, Mary Ellen (Lou) Kleven, Steve (Mary) Nelson, and James Nelson.
He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine; his parents; and his sister, Nancy.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington, Stoughton, with the Rev. Richard Halom officiating. Burial will follow at Cooksville Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton on Friday, November 25th, and again at church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the time of service.
Worm enjoyed country-western music and would often be heard singing his favorite song, "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson, a song that reflected his life path.
"I've backed up more miles than you've gone forward"

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
206 W Prospect Ave Stoughton 608-873-9244
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