Monte E. Nelson

Monte E. Nelson, 79, of Coon Valley died Sunday January 7, 2024 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. He was born September 15, 1944 to Elmer and Nora (Mahlum) Nelson. He was baptized and confirmed at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. He graduated from Westby High School in 1962. Monte married LuEtta Swiggum on April 6, 1968 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Westby.

He worked as a welder at Trane Company moving up to become a foreman.  He then worked as a foreman at Industrial Heat Transfer in Coon Valley until his retirement in 2004.

Monte was a lifelong resident of Coon Valley and was a lifetime member of the Coon Valley Conservation Club, and the Coon Valley Lutheran Church and a past member of the Coon Valley Fire Department.

Always a lover of old-time music, he played in several local polka bands, including his own, The Jolly Musicians.  Monte was a very talented accordion player and loved to sing and play music while friends and family spun around the dance floor. He owned and operated Nelson Lawn Services mowing lawns for over 20 years. His love of taking an afternoon ride in one of his many Corvettes over the years led him to start the Coon Valley Car Club. He loved to bring people together and have a good time and took a lot of pride in organizing cruises and picking out each leader of the pack.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, LuEtta; son Ricky (Julie Charon) of Coon Valley; daughters Kathy (Marc Dahlen) of Coon Valley, Lori (Mark) Manske of Stoddard, and Cindy (Adam) Gartner of Coon Valley; grandchildren, Michelle, Courtney, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Ashley, Ethan, Kaden and Makenna, and great grandchildren Brantley and Lilly; and his brother, Dale (Kay) Nelson of Coon Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Ernie (Audrey) and Roger (Corrine) and granddaughter Elaine.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday January 13, 2024 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Jim Scaife will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.