Frank B. Nelson
July 16, 1932 – July 4, 2025
Family Services will be held at a later date.
Frank Boyce Nelson was born July 16, 1932, to Frank A. and Martha (Hinrichs) Nelson in Ringsted, Iowa. He spent his formative years there and graduated from Ringsted High School in 1950, where he participated in sports and band. He traveled to the Boy Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Frank attended Iowa State University, where he joined a fraternity and ROTC program. He graduated in 1954 with a major in industrial economics and a minor in accounting.
After graduation, Frank married Pauline Larkin, and they had five children. They later divorced.
From 1954 until the fall of 1956, Frank served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany. He received an honorable discharge in 1956 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
That fall, Frank enrolled in the University of Iowa Law School. After receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1959, he joined the James and Greer Law Firm in Spencer, Iowa. It later became the Greer, Nelson, Bertell, Montgomery, Barry and Bovee firm, where Frank practiced for many years.
On April 16, 1981, he married Sylvia Fridley. They resided in the Iowa Great Lakes area until 1989, when they moved to Spencer.
In 1988, Frank was selected to be an Iowa District Court Judge. His chambers were in Spencer, and he served ten counties in northwest Iowa until 2012. His last six years on the bench were as a senior judge, working part-time. He also performed work on the Iowa Court of Appeals.
Frank was a 50-plus-year member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and was also a member of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.
He was an active member of the First Congregational Church for more than 50 years. He served on the Board of Trustees for several terms and as the Church Moderator twice. He also served on the Board of Directors of Spencer National Bank, traveling to Washington, DC, to obtain its national charter. He was involved in a motel investment group, overseeing the business end of their properties in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Frank also managed the family farms and had a private pilot’s license.
Frank loved to travel, and he and Sylvia made five trips to Europe, two with the motel group. They also cruised in Alaska, through the Panama Canal, and in the Mediterranean Sea. They also spent parts of many winters staying on the ocean in the San Diego area.
He belonged to the Spencer Golf & Country Club for many years, serving on the committee that facilitated the move from the old course to its present location. He enjoyed golfing with his various groups and playing cards. Frank was a good, kind, thoughtful, and intelligent man who loved his family dearly.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gerald; sister-in-law, Kela; and one grandson.
Frank is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sylvia; his children, Steve (Marcia) of Eagan, Minnesota, Mark (Margrit Benton) of Denver, Colorado, David (Esther) of Centreville, Virginia, Sara Couron (Corey) of San Diego, California, and Paul of Chicago, Illinois. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He passed away on July 4, 2025, at the Ruthven Community Care Center where he lived for the last seven years. The family is forever grateful for the compassionate and quality care he received from the CNAs, nurses, and the entire staff. Gentiva Hospice provided caring professionals and special equipment to help make him more comfortable during the last six weeks of his life.
Shortly before he died, Frank received an award and a challenge coin of recognition and appreciation for his military service. This honor was presented to him by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Arrangements by Geelan Funeral Home of Spencer.
