Merlin Leroy "Kip" Nelson

Merlin Leroy “Kip” Nelson age 85 of Crosby passed away on April 7, 2018 at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.  He was born on September 30, 1932 in Duluth to John and Veronica (Filla) Nelson.  Kip graduated from the Crosby-Ironton High School, class of 1950.  He then served in the Minnesota National Guard from 1950 to 1952 and then the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1961.  He graduated from the USAF Officer Candidate School and was a 2ndLieutenant and a B-52 Navigator.  Kip worked at various endeavors including: owner and operator of Nelson Hardware in Crosby, a mechanic for Dykstra Construction in Racine, WI and then was the owner and operator of ABC Services in Kenosha, WI.  He retired in 2007 and moved to Crosby.  He was a former member and past secretary of the American Legion Post #546 in Racine, WI.

Preceding Kip in death are his parents, John and Veronica “Fronie” Nelson; an infant son, Randy; one brother, Robert; sister-in-law, Janet (Bjerkness) Nelson and brother-in-law, Louis Schemmel.

Kip is survived by daughters, Dawne, Gena, Carri and son, Craig DeCamp; grandchildren, Jonathan, Angela, Lindsey, Scena, Katherine, Anneliese, Max, Eric and Jake; sisters, Veronica “Tutie” Schemmel and Scena “Tena” (Ron) Proodian; brothers, Gerald “Jerry”, James, Wayne (MaryAnn), Bruce “Bud” (Linda) and Douglas “Dick” (Marilyn) and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held 9:00 am on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Crosby.  Burial will be at the Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby with full military honors given by the Myrin-James American Legion Post #433, Ironton. Visitation will be held on Friday at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby from 4 to 7 pm with a prayer service at 7.