Mary Jo Leona Nelson Post Cole, 71, Mantorville
Mary Jo Leona Nelson Post Cole, 71, passed away peacefully Monday morning, Oct. 31, 2016, at her home in Fairmont, following a short battle with cancer. She formerly lived in Mantorville.
There will be a service held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the First Congregational Church in Mantorville. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the time of service at the church.
Mary Jo was born on March 12, 1945, in Hutchinson, the daughter of Elmer and Leona H. (Murtaugh) Nelson, Sr. Mary Jo grew up in Mantorville, where she received her education.
On Aug. 6, 1965, Mary Jo was united in marriage to Lambert M. Post at the First Congregational Church in Mantorville. Together the couple made their home on a farm near Mantorville.
Mary Jo was an extremely active member of the Mantorville community. She enjoyed the time she spent being a member of the Mantorville Restoration Association and served as chairman of Mantorville Marigold Days for many years. She was a long-standing member of the First Congregational Church in Mantorville.
Following Lambert’s passing, Mary Jo was blessed to find love again when she met and later married Willis “Bill” Cole on Sept. 23, 2001, in rural Mantorville. Together the couple would spend the next 15 years traveling to Hawaii, Alaska, Ireland and many thousands of miles throughout the United States.
Mary was a nationally certified art teacher, teaching classes out of her home and teaching at seminars. She cherished time spent with family and friends and treasured the opportunity to be a step-mom, grandma and great-grandma to all of Bill’s family.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Willis “Bill” Cole of Fairmont; step-children, Kevin (Marla) Cole of Fairmont, Scott (Mary) Cole of Welcome, and Byron (Rita) Cole of Kasson; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Zephanie) Cole, Brian Cole, Allen (Lexi) Cole, Andrew Cole, Daniel Cole, Amanda Cole and McKenzie Cole; two great-grandchildren, Maddison and Karsyn; step-mother, Marion Nelson of West Liberty, Iowa; brothers, Elmer “Ole” (Grace) Nelson of Gainsville, Fla., Albert (Dorothy) Nelson of Cambridge, Rick (Sue) Olive of Mantorville, Harold Nelson of Silverton, Ore., Leonard (Mary Sue) Nelson of Des Moines, Iowa, Gene (Brenda) Nelson of Iowa City, Iowa, and Vania (Leo) Kirkpatrick of West Liberty, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Alice Gies and husband Bill of Fairmont and Beverly Ceaglske and husband Norman of Braham; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Leona Nelson; first husband, Lambert “Mickey” Post; brother, Norman Nelson; a stillborn baby brother; as well as numerous in-laws and extended family.
Services for Mary Jo were held on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family requests memorials be given in Mary Jo’s name to Mayo Clinic Hospice-Fairmont, First Congregational Church of Mantorville, MN, or a hospice center of your choice.
www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net