Elmer Nash

Services for Elmer Nash, 76, of Groton will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 6th at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton. Rev. Craig Grams will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in Union Cemetery, Groton under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held Tuesday at the chapel from 4-8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Elmer passed away May 2, 2009 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital, Aberdeen.

Elmer Russell Nash was born on September 1, 1932 to Earl & Edith (Hall) Nash in Faulk County. His mother passed away when Elmer was only four years old. Elmer's father attached an apple box to his 1530 tractor, so Elmer could be with him during the day while his siblings were at school. He attended Cresbard School until the 5th grade, transferring to country school later on. Elmer worked on the family farm before enlisting in the US Army in June of 1953. He was honorably discharged in June of 1955.

Elmer was baptized in the Congregational Church in Athol in 1955. He married Sylvia Cleberg on November 5, 1955 and to this union five children were born; Penny, Dawn, Elmer, Jr. "Pete", Rose and Violet "Shorty".

Elmer united in marriage with Joann Campbell Nehls on July 7, 1978. He worked various jobs in the Groton area including, Randy's TV, Gullickson Plumbing, Groton School, Trail Chevrolet and Dependable Sanitation. Elmer was employed with the City of Groton at the time of his death.

Elmer was a member of the Groton American Legion Post #39.

Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife of 30 years, Joann; four daughters, Penny (Roger) Barondeau, Dawn (Steve) Monson, Rose (Dan) Keihl and Shorty (Randy) Tewksbury; two brothers, Keith Nash and Dale Nash; two sisters, Isabelle Means and Mary Ann Crane. Elmer is also survived by his grandchildren; Michelle (Kevin) Adams, Ryley (Niki) Erickson, Bradly (Sarah) Tewksbury, Gina Erickson, Elizabeth Keihl, Jennifer Keihl, Amanda Tewksbury and Mathew Nash-Cruz; great-grandchildren, Maggie and James Adams, Bailey and Taylor Erickson, Alexis Keihl and Jacob Tewksbury; his mother-in-law, Sylvia Campbell; two step-children, Karen (Todd) Cleveland and Roy Nehls; step-grandchildren, Joshua Nehls, Wendy Nehls, Kevin Cleveland and step-great-grandchildren; David Leiferman and Daniel Leiferman.

Preceding him in death were his parents, three brothers, Oscar, Gordon and Orville; and his son, Elmer, Jr. "Pete" in 1991.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Elmer's City of Groton Co-worker's.

Casketbearers will be David Anderson, Benny Schaller, Eddie Nehls, Butch Radke, Bill Stolle and Bill McKiver.

www.paetznick-garness.com