Gloria D. Nelson

Gloria D. Nelson (1949-2025)

After a couple years of medical issues with cancer and congestive heart failure, Gloria Nelson passed away peacefully at the Marshfield Medical Center Hospice unit in Weston, WI on May 26.

Gloria was born in Clintonville, WI in 1949, daughter of Ruth (Hagen) and Herbert Jeske. She attended school in Clintonville, Sheboygan, and Wausau, graduating from Wausau High in 1967. She married her high school sweetheart Gerald (Jerry) Nelson in 1968 and they shared 57 years together. They were blessed with two wonderful children, a daughter Shannon and a son Shane. Gloria was always “a party waiting to happen” – fun loving, upbeat, and full of adventure. She and Jerry each had their own motorcycles and enjoyed taking the kids along on the bikes. The Fall Ride in Tomahawk was a must go to event for many years. She also enjoyed trail riding on the ATV up north and by their cabin, always making sure they packed a couple cold ones and some red wine for the ride. Gloria always planned a party for St Patrick’s Day, the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, Packer games, all national holidays, and sometimes for no reason at all. She was an avid Rolling Stones fan and attended 7 of their concerts over the years. She was also an animal lover, especially birds, and actually raised several of them right from the eggs. Two of her parrots were named Charlie and Woody – yup – after two members of the Rolling Stones. Gloria had many interests in her life. She was a member of Visiting Nurses, taught Sunday school at Mount Olive Luthern church, served one year as president of the Marathon County Genealogy Association, sold Avon products, jewelry, worked at Melanie’s fine clothing shop in the Wausau mall, and was an assistant manager at Radio Shack in Rib Mountain. It was often said she could sell ice cubes to an Eskimo! She enjoyed several years as a demo/sales person at 29 Super Market and Triggs Food and would often display a bottle of wine and flowers on her demo table. The customers loved her even though she would not let them have a free sample if she felt the product was not healthy for them. Gloria will be dearly missed by all that knew her. The family wishes to thank the great staff at the Marshfield Medical Center for the care and compassion they provided. God bless.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau.  Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate.  Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau.  Visitation will be on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com