Loretta Mae Nelson

Loretta Mae (Wise) Nelson “Rusty”, 92, of Fort Dodge, IA, passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021, at Unity Point – Trinity Regional Medical Center after a short illness.  A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South. A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service. Services will be live streamed via the Historic Bruce Funeral Home Facebook page. A private family inurnment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Loretta was born November 12, 1928, in Richards, IA, the daughter of Elmer and Viva (Beam) Wise. She was raised and educated in Manson. On July 1, 1948, Loretta was united in marriage to Vyron J. “Snuffy” Nelson in Spirit Lake, IA. Loretta was a homemaker who also worked at TCI Grain Inspectors. She enjoyed spending time with family & friends, reading, training and showing her dogs in obedience & agility and helping others train their dogs. She was a Certified Obedience Dog Trainer and a founding member of the Fort Dodge Kennel Club.

Loretta is survived by her daughter: Patricia Saunders and husband Jeff of Fort Dodge; 4 grandsons: Zachary and Corey Nelson of Fort Dodge, Ryan Nelson of Tennessee and Tracy Saunders of Missouri; and 5 great grandchildren: Mason, Nathen and Olivia Saunders, Ellie Reinhard and Lily Nelson. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews as well as her dog: Sherry.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1989; 3 sons: Lee, Jack and Jeffrey Nelson; granddaughter: Lacey Nelson; and her brothers: Forest and Eugene Wise.

Loretta spent the last three years in the loving care of the staff at Villa Cottages.