1-888-579-7953 Code: 74804P

Kermit Floyd Nelson, age 66, of Hibbing passed away on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at St. Mary's in Duluth from medical complications. He was born July 31, 1950, in Bagley, MN, the son of Harry and Norma (Negaard) Nelson. He attended school in Pinewood, MN briefly and then the family moved to Pineville, MN for a short time and then to Hoyt Lakes where he graduated from High School in 1969.

Kermit began his career with LTV Steel Company in Hoyt Lakes in 1969 as a laborer and then a heavy equipment operator. He entered the welding apprenticeship while employed there and continued his career as a welder, first at LTV and then transferring to Hibbing Taconite in 1978. He retired from Hibbing Taconite in 2001. He enjoyed welding and said that he could mend anything except a broken heart or the crack of dawn. He formed many lasting friendships during his working career. During lay-offs, he would seek employment elsewhere and he spent one such lay-off installing the copper roof on the "Copper Top" church in Duluth; and he spent one lay-off working in the canyon around Gunnison, CO, where he fell in love with the beauty of the area and returned to visit several times.

Kermit lived in Hoyt Lakes where his daughters Julie and Joey were born. He moved to Hibbing in 1978 in the Little Swan area where he purchased land and built a home. He gradually increased his land holdings and raised cattle and Arabian horses. He tried his hand at raising pigs, turkeys, ducks and geese but eventually decided cattle were the easiest to take care of. He would spend most of each summer baling hay to feed his livestock. He was happiest when he was on his tractor or joking with his buddies or teasing his grandchildren. At one point he had a herd of about 40 head of cattle and continued to raise a few head until several years ago when he finally "retired".

Kermit enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a board member of Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and a member of the Dark House Association, and Ducks Unlimited.

Kermit is survived by one daughter: Joey (Todd) Lopac; five grandchildren: Zach Childs, Sarah Childs, Lindsey Lampi, Leah Lampi, and Lucas Lopac; two brothers: James (Sue) Nelson, and Leland (Brenda) Nelson; his former wife: Charlotte Nelson De Wall; special friends: Robert Waara, Ron Sterle and Jere Heineman; and his companion dog: "Monster".

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughter: Julie Childs.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the 11:00 am Funeral Service Thursday, September 15, 2016, at the Anderson-Daniels Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in the Buzzle Osterdalen Cemetery at a later date.

Family services are provided by Anderson-Daniels, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Hibbing. To express condolences on-line please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Facts

Born: July 31, 1950
Place of Birth: Bagley, MN
Death: September 11, 2016
Place of Death: Duluth, MN
Occupation: Welder
Hobbies: Farming, Hunting, Fishing
Organizations: MDHA, Dark House Association, Ducks Unlimited

Services Visitation

Thursday September 15, 2016 , 10 am - 11 am at Anderson-Daniels Funeral Home Chapel

Thursday September 15, 2016 , 11 am at Anderson-Daniels Funeral Home Chapel

at Buzzle Osterdalen Cemetery