Virginia Ann (Wallgren) Nelson

Virginia Ann (Wallgren) Nelson of Elk River Minnesota passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025.  Virginia was born in Sebeka, Minnesota on January 9, 1936, the eldest child of Arthur and Freda (Becker) Wallgren.  She and her younger brother Donald grew up on the family farm in Sebeka, graduating from Sebeka High School in 1954.  She attended college at St. Cloud State College.  Virginia taught elementary school for several years before marrying Robert Carl Nelson in 1962.  She worked in retail at J.C. Penney for 15 years before retiring in 1993.

Virginia and Robert then began many years of world travel with a special love of cruises.  They visited 70+ countries on 6 continents.  From cruising the Amazon to the Elba, Robert and Virginia explored the world together.  They were on a river cruise in Russia when 9-11 occurred—luckily the air travel restrictions were lifted by the time they were scheduled to return home.  Once, they had breakfast with their son Greg in Cairo, Egypt when he coincidentally was in Egypt on a business trip.  On their last Caribbean cruise in March 2020, they managed to squeak home on one of the last flights out of Miami before the cruise industry was shut down due to COVID-19.

Virginia will be remembered for the many Lutheran congregations she and Bob belonged to in their moves around the country, her adventurous travel spirit, and her sweet smile through it all.

Virginia is survived by her husband, Robert; son and daughter-in-law, Greg Nelson and Jennifer Nye; daughter Julian Neal and partner Fred Steinmann, sister-in-law Marilyn Wallgren (Donald), brothers-in-law Larry Nelson and wife Barb, Bruce Larson (Shirley), sisters-in-law Marlys Olson, Janice Nelson and husband Norm Abbott, and many friends and relations. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Donald.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either CAER Food Shelf of Elk River, where Virginia volunteered for many years, or Guardian Angels Senior Services, where Virginia and Bob moved in December. Guardian Angels also took care of Virginia in her last days and during previous recoveries.

CAER Food Shelf

12621 Elk Lake Road

Elk River, MN 55330

www.caerfoodshelf.org

Guardian Angels Senior Services

508 Freeport Avenue NW, Ste. A

Elk River, MN 55330

www.guardianangelsmn.org

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