North Mankato, Minnesota - Marlene Nelson, age 87, of North Mankato, passed away peacefully on January 19th at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Marlene Nelson, was born on October 4th, 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa. During her younger years, Marlene was a baton twirler and led the University of Iowa band into the football stadium. She later would lead the greyhound dog racers into their starting spots in Iowa. After graduating from college at the University of Iowa, she went on to get her teaching degree in Home Economics and taught in Hopkins, MN until she moved to Mankato to be with her husband, Bill Nelson. Together they opened the Tastee Freez in the late 1960's. Marlene hired, trained and made a gazillion gallons of potato salad and coleslaw over the years until it was sold in the mid- 80's. Despite being busy with the restaurant, she managed to find time to play cards with her friends, golf, go to the casino, shop, and enjoy being with her family. Once in retirement, she would find a new passion for selling and styling clothes out of her house. Right after she had hip surgery a little over 2 weeks ago, she was telling the nurses they had to come up to the house and look at her clothes.

Her greatest joys were her son, daughter and grandchildren. She loved to have her grandchildren visit and play cards and Banangrams with them. She always had some sort of gift to give them even though all they needed was the gift of her time spent with them. Her final gifts were the time she gave her family to say goodbye, and a double rainbow on the way out the door.

She will be remembered by her family as "Nana" and as the "boss lady". She always managed to find the right people to be in her corner and help her out when she needed it. Seems fitting that she left this earth on her own terms.

Marlene is survived by her daughter, Nicole "Nicky" Nelson, her grandson Liam and granddaughter Cozette, her sister Jackie, brother-law Dick, her sister-in-law Orie, nieces and nephews and many dear friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Bill, son Brent, her parents, her brother Bob and so many other loved ones.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Visiting Angels, Benedictine Living Community and St. Croix Hospice for their excellent care and support. A special thank you to all of her neighbors and friends who made it possible for her to continue to live in her house until her fall.

The family will have a celebration of life in late Spring.