Ethel Nadine Nelsen

Ethel ‘Nadine’ Johnson – Strauch – Nelsen

Ethel Nadine Nelsen, 87, was called to heaven Friday May 3rd in Tulsa, Oklahoma due to a massive aortic aneurysm. She was born to Lillian and Roy Johnson in a one room house in South Mitchell, Nebraska on June 5th, 1931. She endured a hard but happy childhood during the Great Depression. Nadine married her first love Elmer Strauch in 1950. She raised four children while working on the family farm and as a housewife. In later years she worked as a Caregiver for Special Needs children at the Martin Luther Home in Mitchell. Widowed, Nadine again married in 1991 to Edward Nelsen, a USS Indianapolis survivor. They eventually moved to Oklahoma to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family, playing board games, cooking, trying new restaurants, and laughing. She loved kids most of all.

Nadine was preceded in death by her first husband Elmer, her second husband Ed and her brothers Vernon and Ed Johnson. She is survived by her sister Nita Schommer of Las Vegas, NV, daughter Gwendolyn ‘Joanne’ Cruz of Tulsa, OK, son Elmer ‘Gordon’ Strauch of Mitchell, NE, son Stuart Strauch and wife Teresa of Fort Worth, TX, daughter Michelle Fidel and husband Marcus of Owasso, OK, six grandchildren, Brandi, Josh, Hannah, Christian, Felicia, and Kalea, three great grandchildren, Makayla, Justin and Davey, and one great great grandchild, Ki'auna.

She was the kindest hearted and most caring person we all had the honor of calling sister, mother, and grandmother. During her last hours on earth she only had thoughts of her family and that we would love and care for each other. She passed on with family holding her dear hands. We love and miss her with all our hearts, but we are comforted by knowing that she is with Jesus now and for eternity.

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