Mary K. Nelson

Nelson, Mary K. “Mickey”

Middleton:  Mary Katherine “Mickey” Nelson, quietly passed away on October 30 at the Agrace HospiceCare, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in Baraboo, WI in 1935. After graduating from St. Mary’s Nursing school in 1956, she met the love of her life, Burt Nelson, while working at Mendota State Hospital. They built a life together on Middleton Beach Road on Lake Mendota. They were married for over 49 years before his death, and blessed with two children. For over 50 years, Mickey dedicated her life to nursing, taking care of patients at St. Mary’s hospital, Central Colony and Mendota State Hospital.

She was a gregarious spirit who loved hosting an annual holiday wine and cheese party for friends and neighbors for over 20 years, and her home always had a revolving door of friends, family and children coming in to share a meal or a boat ride. Mickey was also a creative and a talented seamstress who put herself through nursing school by teaching furniture upholstery and drapery making classes. She could often be found making wedding dresses or costumes for Halloween, with no project being too big for her skills to tackle.

She is survived by her son Scott, daughter Kari, son-in-law Andrew (Kaplan), and loving grandsons Tyler and Chase, who cherished going to Vilas Zoo and making Pecan rolls with her whenever they would visit from New York. Mickey is also survived by her brother Joe Watts, Dick (Alice) Watts, her sister, Barbara Ploetz and countless nieces and nephews. Mickey was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Burt, her brothers Jack and Jim Watts, her sister Dorothy Larson and her daughter-in-law Karen Nelson who took amazing care of her for several years. Funeral Services will be held at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 6021 University Ave., at 2pm on Wednesday, November 2nd. The family wishes to thank the caring staff at the Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.

“Aunt Mickey” was beloved, and will be terribly missed by everyone that knew her.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406