Erma Nelson, 93, of Genoa, Nebraska, died Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Columbus Community Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 10, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Genoa with Rev. Juliet Rasi officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM and continue Friday, from 9:30 AM until service time, all at the church. Interment will be in West Hill Cemetery at approximately 1:45 PM on Friday. The memorial service will be broadcast live on the Gass Haney Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Augustana Lutheran Church.

Erma Katherine Nelson was born June 14, 1932, to Arthur and Katherine (Runge) Schreiber, in Platte County Nebraska.  Erma was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church (Shell Creek) in rural Columbus.  Erma attended grade school in rural Columbus and graduated from Kramer High School in 1949.

Erma was united in marriage to Leland Nelson on October 2, 1955, at St. John's Lutheran Church (Shell Creek). They made their home on the family farm north of Genoa, where they raised their seven children.

Erma was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Genoa, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, on the Bake Sale committee, LCW member, and participated in the church quilting group.  She also served on the Genoa High School Post Prom Committee.

Erma's greatest loves were tending to her large garden and taking care of her plants and flowers, canning and cooking for her family, and completing countless puzzles each winter.  Her passions also included quilting days at the church that often spilled into tying quilts and prepping materials at home.  Nothing matched her enjoyment of Husker sports, particularly football and volleyball.

Erma is survived by:
Son – Don (Rose) Nelson of Columbus, NE
Son – Roger (Kate) Nelson of Genoa, NE
Son – Duane (Cindy) Nelson of Norfolk, NE
Daughter – Kathleen (Scott Vicroy) Simley of Lincoln, NE
Daughter – Deb (Tom) Loseke of Columbus, NE
Daughter – Linda (John) Wienck of Randolph, KS
Daughter Janice (Jeff Oatman) Donoghue of Milford, NE
Grandchildren – Christopher (Jordyn) Simley of Elkhorn, NE; Rebecca (Spencer) Kokes of Aurora, CO; Karalynn (Andrew Malenica) Hellbusch of Lincoln, NE; Matthew (Paige) Hellbusch of Lincoln, NE; Preston (Courtney) Nelson of Genoa, NE; Carly Donoghue of Norfolk, NE
Great Grandchildren – Hudson and Oliver Simley of Elkhorn, NE; Rudy and Rory Malenica of Lincoln, NE; Lucy Hellbusch of Lincoln, NE
6 Step Grandchildren
17 Step Great Grandchildren
4 Step Great Great Grandchildren
Brother-in-law – Wendell Stahl of Thornton, CO
Sister-in-law -Marian Nelson of Columbus, NE
Sister-in-law – Mary Lou Schreiber of Columbus, NE

Erma was preceded in death by:
Husband: Leland Nelson
Parents – Arthur and Katherine Schreiber
Parents-in-law – Clarence and Anna Nelson
Brother – Arthur Schreiber Jr.
Brother – Carroll Schreiber
Sister – Esther Wennekamp
Sister-in-law – Alice Schreiber
Brother-in-law – Milton Wennekamp
Brother-in-law – Ronald Nelson
Sister-in-law – Arlene Stahl
Son-in-law – Neal Simley
Granddaughter – Victoria Nelson