Hazel Nielson

Hazel June Nielson, age 83, of Atwater, died Thursday, January 9, at Sunnyview Assisted Living in Atwater.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater. Interment will be at Union Cemetery in Atwater. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 15, at Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Rice Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association.

Hazel was born June 26, 1930, in Atwater, Minnesota, the daughter of Gust and Georgia (Robinson) Peterson. She grew up in the rural Atwater area and attended country school. On September 21, 1946, she married Merle A. Nielson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Atwater. In 1961, she began the cosmetology program at the Willmar Vo-Tech. Hazel worked out of her home as a beautician. They moved to Litchfield in 1979 and returned to Atwater in 1988.

Hazel enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, fishing, traveling, playing cards and spending time with her grandkids. She was a member of the Atwater American Legion Auxiliary and Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where she served as an usher and was active with Ladies Aid.

She is survived by her four children: Wyman (and Diane) Nielson of Ft. Collins, CO, Wendell (and Mary) Nielson of Elk River, Wayne (and Vicki) Nielson of Hutchinson, and Judith (and Gary) Fuchs of Atwater; eight grandchildren: Ryan (and Amy) Nielson, Darren (and Kelly) Nielson, Tara Nielson, Trevor (and Tara) Nielson, Theresa Fuchs (and Jared Olson), Adam Fuchs (and Nicole Liebl), Daniel Fuchs (and Brittney Naber), and Abbey Fuchs; eight great-grandchildren: Lea Nielson, Ella Nielson, Jacob Nielson, Noah Nielson, Kayden Fuchs, Derrick Olson, Trey Olson, and Kason Olson; a sister: Edna Kluver of Alexandria; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Merle in 2006; and four siblings: Donnie Peterson, Clarence Peterson, Gladys Martinson, and Alice Lisecki.

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