Werner Harry Nelson

Werner Harry Nelson, 87, of Pillager, passed away on January 31, 2025 at the St. Joesph Medical Center. Funeral Services will take place at 11am on Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN. A visitation will take place two hours prior to the services. Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. 

Werner was born on June 20, 1937 in Tyler, MN to Otto and Genevieve (Peterson) Nelson. He attended country school for 7 years and then graduated from Minneota High School in 1955. He served from 1960-1966 in the US Army, with the last four of those years being in the Army Reserves. Werner was also a member of the American Legion for over 44 years and was in the Color Guard for 20 years. After his active duty in the Army, Werner worked for Marshall Storage in Marshall, MN. Then he started at Carr Construction and was a Carpenter, a Carpenter Foreman, and a Carpenter Superintendent on many projects throughout the Marshall area and several construction jobs in South Dakota and Minnesota. After he finished with construction he worked for several years at Brainerd Water and Light Department until his retirement. In 1986, Werner moved to the Brainerd Lakes area and later Pillager. On February 16, 1996, Linda and Werner were united in marriage.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Corrine Nelson; stepson Joey Rohrs, Stepdaughter Melissa Gammello, son-in-law Reed Schmidt, and granddaughter Dalerie DeRosier.

Werner is survived by his spouse Linda Nelson; children Mary (Kurt Morse) Schmidt, Jane (Greg Carlson) Nelson Como; stepson Tony (Tanya) DeRosier; grandchildren Megan (Craig) Lensing, Emily Daun, Lyle (Zach ) Schmidt, Mac (Erica Edel) Como, Ted Como, Ryan (Charlie Johnson) DeRosier, Kinsley DeRosier, Ashley (Taz) Gammello, Josh Gammello, Dominic Gammello; several great-grandchildren; and siblings Lyn (John) Almquist, William (Amy) Nelson, and Richard (Ann) Larson. 

Arrangements are entrusted with Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.