STEVEN J. NELSON , 51, of rural Meriden, Iowa, passed away Friday afternoon, July 10, 2020, due to injuries sustained in an ATV accident near his farm.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 16th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden, Iowa. Pastor Andrew Mahoney and Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate. Burial will be in the Liberty Township Cemetery in rural Meriden, Iowa. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Thursday. Visitation for the public will be on Wednesday, July 15th from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden, Iowa. (In order to preserve their health safety, the family may not be present for the duration of the visitation.) The family respectfully requests that physical distance guidelines be maintained. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa is in charge of the arrangements.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website at https://www.youtube.com/user/meridenfree

Steve was born on October 9, 1968, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Kenneth & Sharon (Priegnitz) Nelson. He was a bright child who was interested in learning and sharing the facts about animals, plants, and natural surroundings from a very young age. He often quoted the scientific identification for plants or animals at the supper table. Steve was an active participant in 4-H. He graduated from Meriden-Cleghorn High School in 1987 and attended Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Steve continued his education, receiving his Master's of Science degree in Environmental and Forest Biology from State University of New York College of Environmental Science of Forestry in 1994.

Following the completion of his master's degree, Steve returned to the family farm in rural Meriden, Iowa, where he spent his time investing in both the land and people around him. Steve became involved in local conservation efforts, eventually serving on the Cherokee County Conservation Board of Directors for 23 years, from 1996-2019. Steve was a good steward of the land, and he saw God's design in nature.

Though Steve loved nature, he loved his Savior more. Steve was a gentle man who emanated Christ's love to everyone he knew. He invested his time and energies into improving whatever he touched, whether it was fixing a fence or quietly serving and loving others.

Steve was also a patient man who waited for love. He found his deepest earthly love and life partner in Kathy Lusk, who he married on July 30, 2005 at the First Lutheran Church in Volga, South Dakota. Steve and Kathy were blessed with their son, Kaleb, in 2006, and Steve poured love into his son. Steve and Kaleb were best friends, and they spent many hours farming, fishing, and hunting together. Steve had plans to take Kaleb someday on one of his yearly hunting trips to Canada.

Steve was a member of the Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden, Iowa. He was a servant leader, filling many seen and unseen roles within the church. Steve happily stepped in to help with anything from groundskeeping to leading children in VBS or Awana. He also served on the church board, most recently as the church treasurer, a job he did for fifteen years.

In addition to his service on the Conservation and church boards, Steve served on the Board of Directors for the First Cooperative Association from 2005 to 2011. Through his work in conservation, the church, and the farm, Steve met many people and left lasting impressions on them. He was a living example of the Biblical principles he held dear. Even those he met only once or twice could see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control in the way Steve treated them.

Steve was a simple man who enjoyed a simple life. He was a lifelong learner who continued to research in order to improve his conservation efforts and farming practices, and to help him raise cattle. Steve was also a natural teacher. He spent hours patiently guiding and gently leading Kaleb and anyone else who happened to cross his path. Steve generously made his time and resources available to friends, and he was happy to share Christ's love and blessings through servanthood. He leaves behind a legacy of Christian love, laughter, and learning for those left to treasure his memory.

He was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Nelson and his in-laws, Delbert and Betty Lusk.

He is survived by his cherished wife Kathy and their treasured son Kaleb (14) of Meriden, Iowa; his mother, Sharon (K) Nelson of Cherokee, Iowa; his sister Teresa (David) Hill of McCallsburg, Iowa, and their sons Matthew and Luke; two brothers-in-law: Rick (Gail) Lusk of Buckeye, Arizona and their family Steven Lusk and Shellane (Ryan) Dickerson; Justin (Allison) Lusk of Phoenix, Arizona and their children CJ and Briar.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Cherokee County Conservation Board, Hidden Acres Christian Center, or the Meriden Evangelical Free Church.