Lucia Janet Nelson

Lucia Janet (Arensmeier) Nelson passed away in her sleep early on October 10, 2021 in Vallejo, California. She was born to Zelma Mildred “Babe” (Bell) and Roy Rahl Arensmeier in Cumberland, Iowa. She loved how she grew up—first on a farm, and then in the small town of Massena, Iowa. She graduated from Massena High School, where she was both salutatorian and cheerleader for the basketball team. She enjoyed many lifelong friends among the 25 members of her graduating class. Lucia first worked at a produce house for “a farmer in Adel” (sing it!) Iowa, then moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she worked for Mutual of Omaha and shared an apartment with three more lifelong friends. She was blessed to have a baby sister, Joyce Allene (Arensmeier) Struemph, and two cousins, Phyllis Olsen and Mary Whisenhunt, whom she enjoyed and loved with all her heart. She met her husband, William “Bill” Noble Nelson, through both of their sets of parents who lived on neighboring farms. Bill had served in the Navy and Army during World War II and afterwards was going to college, first at the University of Nebraska and then at Iowa State, where he transferred to be closer to his parents. He met Lucia on one of his visits home. After accepting Bill’s proposal of marriage over the phone, they married on February 17, 1952 at a lovely country church. For their honeymoon, they drove to Tampa, Florida, where Bill had been assigned as an electrical engineer in the field service for AC Spark Plug, a division of General Motors. For many years, they were transferred all over the country: Louisiana; California; Kansas; Nebraska; Georgia; Wisconsin; and finally Goleta, California, where they lived happily for 40 years in a cul de sac filled with super fun neighbors. Through all or most of those moves, other GM families transferred with them—they then became more than lifelong friends—they were truly family and shared many, many good times. Lucia’s starring role was as a mom—first to Mark William Nelson and then to Vicki Lynn (Nelson) Garcia—and then as a first-rate mother-in-law to Vicki’s husband John. She was a wonderful homemaker and stayed at home to raise her children, lovingly supporting them through all their school, musical, theatrical, travel and work adventures (and misadventures) and welcoming all their friends into her home. After Mark’s passing in 2012, Vicki and John moved Bill and Lucia to northern California to live near them, and care for them both. This was a blessing and a privilege. Lucia loved animals, especially her sequence of five cats. She enjoyed reading mysteries, viewing old movies, trying new recipes and watching the Food Channel. She was active in the church and volunteered at a hospital during her stay in Wisconsin. She was fun, considerate, thoughtful, wise, creative, giving, honest, and above all, loving. Lucia was predeceased by William Noble Nelson, her loving husband of 63 years and her beloved son Mark William Nelson. She—and her infectious giggle—will be greatly missed by daughter Vicki, son-in-law John, her sister Joyce and brother-in-law Clarence, many nephews and nieces, friends, and her extended GM family. A private celebration of life may be held in the future. If you wish to make any donations in Lucia’s memory, please do so at Viva (vivashelter.org) a no-kill cat shelter, or Sutter Care at Home Hospice (sutterhealth.org/services/home-health-hospice/hospice/) who gave Lucia loving care.

Lucia Janet Nelson

April 28, 1930 - October 10, 2021