Date of Birth:
Saturday, September 11, 1937
Date of Death:
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Age:
88 years old

Cyril P. Nelson

Cyril (Cy) Patrick Nelson passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Cy was born September 11, 1937, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN to Ervin “Bud” Nelson and Ruth (O’Connell) Nelson. He grew up on a small farm in Simpson, MN where he attended kindergarten through 5^th grade at District #14 schoolhouse Olmstead County Public Schools.

Cy went on to attend Lourdes High School where he graduated in 1955. Cy was employed with IBM Rochester for 36 years. After retirement he remained active working part-time for a few years at various jobs. Cy also volunteered at Channel One Food Bank with friends after retiring. In 1964 he married the love of his life Maxine Kronebusch of Plainview, MN. They were blessed with three children. Brad (Heidi) Nelson of Lake City, MN, Brenda (Mike) Hawley of Eden Prairie, MN, and Greg (Alyson) Nelson of Apple Valley. He had four grandchildren that he loved very much, Connor Hawley, Jordan Hawley, Makena Nelson, and Sam Nelson.

Cy was a Minnesota sports fan. He had the typical love hate relationship with the Vikings. He was a fan of the Twins and the Wild as well. He followed dirt track racing in Minnesota for years. He enjoyed deer hunting and the camaraderie that came with deer camp. He was a youth coach for both baseball and football when the kids were younger.

Cy was known to be good natured all the time and didn’t have a mean bone in his body. There were many family trips up north and outdoors which were passed on to annual trips with Cy and Max and all the kids and grandkids. Cy enjoyed bowling, fishing, softball and most important to him were family, friends, and relatives. He enjoyed family vacations up north fishing and pontoon rides with grandkids and grand dogs. The next time you see a pack of Wrigley’s Extra Polar Ice chewing gum think of Cy, he had a piece of that gum in his mouth all day every day except when sleeping or eating.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Ruth Nelson, brothers Dave Nelson, John Nelson, his sister Janet (Ray) Quandt, cousins Paul and Jim Nelson.

The family would like to thank Mayo Clinic Medical Team and also like to thank the staff at Benedictine Madonna Towers in Rochester for their support and compassionate care.

A Funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2025, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Channel One Food Bank. https://www.helpingfeedpeople.org/

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.