Reita M. Nelson age 86 of Clinton, passed away Thursday Oct. 7, 2021 at MercyOne Medical Center, Clinton. Funeral services will be held 2:30 PM Saturday Oct. 9th at the Pape Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Saturday 1:00 PM until the service hour at Pape Funeral Home. Burial will be at Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.
Reita was born on July 5, 1935 in Clinton, IA, the daughter of Leo and Eva (Hall) Sawyer. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1955. Reita married Harold Nelson on Sept. 23, 1961 in Morrison, IL. She was an Elementary School Teacher teaching in Rock Falls and Savanna Illinois Schools. She attended the Church of Christ, Clinton. She enjoyed singing, writing, sharing her faith, and spending time with family.
Reita is survived by her husband, Harold Nelson of Clinton; three daughters, Kathleen (Kent) Shivers of Pleasant Hill, IA, LynnAnne (Mark) Dille of Eden Prairie, MN, and Brenda Nelson of Clinton, IA; five grandchildren, Mercy, Grant, Brett, Alexander, and Brendan; and a great granddaughter, Amari. She was preceded in death by her parents, her grandson, Samuel, and 12 brothers and sisters.
