DWIGHT NELSON

Dwight Fabian Nelson, age 97, of Platteville, Wisconsin, passed away on August 25, 2026. Dwight was born in Boone, Iowa on October 10, 1928, son of Lloyd F. and Ethel (Gustafson) Nelson. Dwight grew up on a farm outside of Boone, where he was active in 4-H, winning two national scholarships.  He graduated from Boone High School in 1946 and Iowa State College in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering.  Dwight served 2 yrs in the Army with the 29th Engineering Battalion in the Philippines from 1951 to 1952.  On June 6, 1953, he married Mary Lou Aldene in the Evangelical Free Church in Moline, IL.

In 1953 he was hired by John Deere Wagon Works as a product engineer.  The Wagon Works was phased out, and it became the John Deere Industrial Equipment Works, which was also phased out.  They lived in Moline until he was transferred to Dubuque in 1969 at which time they moved to Platteville.  Dwight worked at John Deere Dubuque Works until his early retirement in 1984.  He then taught at University of Wisconsin-Platteville engineering department for 6 plus years.  Dwight worked as a funeral assistant for many years at the Bendorf Funeral Home/ Melby Funeral Home, Platteville.  He was very active with the Gideons in distributing Bibles and speaking in churches about the Gideons.  Dwight served as a County Board Supervisor for 19 years.  He was an active member of the Free Methodist Church.  He loved to fish and hunt pheasants, turkeys and deer.  Dwight loved to refinish old furniture, cane chairs and fix or build most anything.   He loved camping, even building a tent camper.  Dwight loved music and was the choir director, sang in the quartet, was half of the Fiddlin’ Fishermen and other groups in church.  He was known to many for his playing the saw.

Dwight is survived by 5 daughters; Diane Nelson, Rebecca (Joe) Welter, Laurie (Rich) Karns, Cynthia Nelson and Christine (Jerry) Davis, 7 grandchildren; Tony (Lauren) Wang, Emily Wang, Angela (Granger) Caploe, Makayla Karns, Michael Karns, Marcus Karns and Jaylen Davis; 4 step-grandchildren, Brandy Welter, Chrystal Kirk, Jacob Welter and Jason Ruskell; 8 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou on September 26, 2020, granddaughter, Jessica Wang, parents, brother, Ivan and sister Beatrice.

Funeral services will be at Noon, Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Platteville Free Methodist Church, Platteville.  Rev. Jeff Suits will officiate.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Platteville, where military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 42 and VFW Post 5274.  Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.  The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is serving the family. Dwight was a man of faith and humility, therefore in lieu of flowers, chimes and memorial stones, memorials may be made to Gideon’s International in Dwight’s name.  Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

The family would like to THANK Dr. White, the staff of Edenbrook and St. Croix Hospice for all of their care.