Calvin “Callie” Lyle Nelson, 79, of Elroy, Wis., passed away Saturday, April 22, 2023, with loving family members by his side, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.
Callie was born May 9, 1943, to Dorsie and Velva (Worthington) Nelson. He was born at his Grandpa and Grandma Worthington’s farm on Burr Ridge in the town of Forest, Vernon County. His grandfather helped deliver him. Callie grew up around the Ontario and Kendall area.
He graduated from Royall High School in 1962. Later that year, he started working for Lyle Jefferies in the plumbing field and went on to become a master plumber. He worked for Lyle for eight years, and then worked with Bob Berg, and he worked for Jim Kranz in Mauston for 1 ½ years before he went into business with his brother-in-law, Don Ziese, for seven years. After dissolving his partnership with his brother-in-law, he went back to work for Jim Kranz for 7 ½ years, and then went into business for himself, retiring when he turned 73 because of his health.
Callie was involved with the Elroy Fire Department and served as assistant chief for many years. He was one of the first EMTs for Elroy and served for 26 years. He enjoyed many things in his life. Throughout the years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and playing cards. He had a great love for all of his tractors. He enjoyed talking on the phone to all his family and friends. His greatest joy was all of his grandkids; he was so proud of them. Some of his favorite memories were his many trips to Branson.
He married Joan (Haske) Ulrath in 1986, and she passed away suddenly in 1992. He then married Karen (Dallman) Hale in 1994.
Survivors include his wife, Karen; his stepchildren, Ronda (Bill) Bond, Renee (Brent) Lindstrom, Drea Leverenz, Brenda (Stacy) Downing and Paula (David) Bloor; his grandchildren, Ashley Jacobson and Ahmed Alsayed, Clayton and Valerie Jacobson, Markie Jacobson and Alvaro Farina Velez, Marin Jacobson, Joanne Bond, Glen Bond, Haley Hall and Sawyer Hynek “Walnuts,” Rylee Hall and Kolin Muehlenkamp “Peanuts,” and Zak Leverenz; and his aunt and uncle, Chuck (Georgine) Worthington.
In addition to his wife, Joan, he was preceded in death by his parents, Dorsie and Velva Nelson; a stepson, Randy Ulrath; two infant sisters; and an infant brother.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy. Burial will be in the Elroy City Cemetery. A time of visitation will be on Thursday from 4–7 p.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Elroy. For online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
