Margaret "Maggie" Nelson , of Cherokee, Iowa and former longtime Washta, Iowa farming resident passed away, Saturday, September 12, 2020 enveloped in the love of her son and daughter.

Visitation and a time of sharing memories with the family present will be held on Thursday September 17th from 5 p.m. til 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Please practice social distancing guidelines and masks are optional for the visitation.

Maggie was born in 1938 in Central Iowa to Laurence and Irene (Lindahl) Bloomquist. She graduated from Quimby School. She went to nursing school at Iowa Methodist Nursing School in Des Moines, Iowa graduating in 1959 as a Registered Nurse. She worked at Boone, Iowa hospital for a few years while living with her favorite Aunt Alma and Uncle Arvid Bloomquist. She took a hiatus from nursing to have a family, which through those years she put to use her nursing skills and loving touch to take care all the cuts and scrapes of her children living on a farm.

She married Rodney Nelson of Quimby, Iowa at the Quimby Methodist Church. They farmed together for many years before Maggie moved to Cherokee in the 1990s. After raising three children, Maggie returned to nursing. She refreshed her license and worked 15+ years at Hilltop Manor. Her caring and loving approach helped many residents over the years. Maggie loved to teach and also became a Certified Nurses Aide instructor. She was very good at teaching and helping students understand the importance of empathy and caring touch when nursing for the elderly. She taught for NW Technical College and Western Iowa Tech. She shaped the careers of hundreds of students and was always so pleased she inspired some to become Registered Nurses as well.

Maggie had a strong faith and her constant prayers and thoughts were always strongly felt by all of us who loved her dearly. She was always available for a new friendship wherever she traveled. She was an avid reader and loved puzzles of all kinds that definitely kept her sharp. She loved reading the daily internet jokes and listening to streaming music concerts and funny kids spots. She was a knitter and made so many Afghans for her children and others who touched her life. She was a pianist from a young age and played for the Quimby Methodist Church services. Her music talents were also in her daughter, Laurel, and she was always Laurel's accompanist for flute and vocal solos and duets. She loved doggie sitting for her son, Mark, and also really enjoyed their long talks together. She was always ready to go out to eat and soaking in the company of others over a long meal. Maggie traveled frequently over the years to take many new adventures with Laurel. She thoroughly enjoyed the shenanigans of all the different birds and squirrels in Laurel and Steve's backyard. She was also always ready for a spa visit and be pampered.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

She will be remembered by her husband, Rodney Nelson of Quimby, Iowa. Her love and memories will continue through her daughter Laurel (son-in-law Steve Bragg) of Renton, Washington and son Mark (Kim Vannatta) of Kingsley, Iowa. She is also survived by her brother, Gregory (Rachel) Bloomquist of Ottawa, Canada, his family and many caring Lindahl and Bloomquist relatives.