Doris ‘Dot’ Nelson, age 90 of Lake View, IA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, IA. Doris Tollie Freese was born on October 2, 1932, to parents Bennie and Angie (Tebben) Freese in Coon Valley Township. She grew up in Lake View where she first attended country school and then high school, graduating from Lake View High School with the Class of 1952. She was baptized and confirmed in the Wheatland Presbyterian Church south of Wall Lake, her ancestors being founding members of the church. Dot spoke frequently about working as a waitress at the Frozen Frontier restaurant in Lake View while in high school as she loved that job. Growing up she was also a Rainbow Girl as a member of The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls organization.
On June 29, 1952, Doris married the love of her life, Sidney Hershal Nelson. They lived off base in California for a while in a travel trailer they hauled there from Iowa. This union was blessed with four children: Renee, Royce, Rendee, and Rajean. The three oldest children were born in California while Sid was stationed there, and Rajean was born closer to “home” in Omaha, NE, before they all moved to Guam. Dot was a dutiful military wife and mother. She was always very meticulous when it came to keeping house just the way the military expected it to be kept. She also made sure things were very organized when it came to moving time. Over the years she, Sid and the kids moved six times before settling back in Lake View.
In the mid to late sixties, Dot enrolled in beauty school. When the family returned to Lake View to live in the early seventies, she opened a salon in their home. Dot then owned and operated a health food store in Lake View called Dr. Dots where she sold vitamins and health food supplements long before the market for it really blossomed. She always wanted to help others in any way she could, even health-wise. Dot always had such a positive attitude and was sure to remind her children to do their best to stay positive as well…and to ‘always treat others as you yourself would like to be treated’.
While Sid was born a fisherman, fishing wasn’t something Dot really cared to do until later on in life. For many years the family took fishing trips to Okoboji and Minnesota. She loved these gatherings as it meant spending quality time with her family. She and Sid enjoyed dancing at Lakewood Ballroom back in the day and also played couples league bowling when they lived in Louisiana. Dot liked to sew and was quite good at it. She also really enjoyed reading. Another one of her favorite things to do was getting ice cream with her grandchildren and then enjoying a ride around the lake on Sundays. Dot was an angel to many and truly was the glue of the family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Left to cherish her memory include her children: Renee (Bob) Renze of Lake View, IA, Royce (Mellanie) Nelson of Sac City, IA, Rendee Wallace (special friend John Jacobson) of Odebolt, IA, and Rajean Koessel of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren: Rob Renze of Lake View, IA, Ryan (Jacque) Renze of Lake View, IA, Ross (Sara) Renze of Auburn, IA, Jesse (Katie) Nelson of Madison, WI, Jennie Nelson of Madison, WI, Justine (Mitch) Decker of Cherokee, IA, Jacob Nelson of Altoona, IA, Kristina (Larry) Boysen of Ida Grove, IA, Angela Wallace of Odebolt, IA, Karissa Koessel and Kristopher Koessel of Phoenix, AZ; great-grandchildren: Quinn, Olivia, Tyler, Jax, Ryker, Reagan, Jadyn, Jorrden, Jaxston, Emmet, Sylvie, Mason, Maddox, Temperance, Ella, and Eli; sisters Betty Wessman (special friend Gary Blessington) of Lake View, IA, and Marjean (Mike) Riedell of Sac City, IA; sister-in-law LaVon Freese of Lake View, IA; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents Bennie and Angie Freese; husband Sid Nelson; grandson Jeffrey Renze; sons-in-law Bill Wallace Jr. and Dave Koessel; sister Eleanor (Everett) Buse; brother Raymond Freese; brother-in-law Jim Wessman; and nephew Philip Riedell.
