Barbara Kay Nelson

Barbara Kay Chapman Nelson

Born in 1933. Died in 2026. Barb grew up in White Bear Lake and met her husband Curt Nelson when she was 13. They were married in 1955 and were blessed with four children. They lived in Forest Lake for 50+ years. Barb loved her family and sponsored many summer vacation trips to Lake Vermilion, including kids, grandkids and great grandkids. She also enjoyed genealogical pursuits and spent much time on Ancestry, tracing the roots of ancestors on all sides of the family. She traveled to Switzerland and Norway to learn more about where her ancestors came from. Barb was also a master's level swimmer into her 80s.

Above all but family, she loved dogs and had one by her side all her life - most recently a German Shepherd named Elsie. She stayed connected to her high school friends, meeting for lunch with them monthly, most of her life. She worked until her mid 80s at Manitou Manufacturing, founded by her father Harvey Chapman, in White Bear Lake. She also received her master's in chemical dependency counseling and worked briefly as a realtor. Her favorite saying was "Behave yourself!"

She is survived by her sister Mary Lynn Hathaway and children Lynn Nelson, Nancy Michael, Kurt Nelson and Erik J. Nelson; grandchildren Naomi Mamer, Lea Nelson, Nick Blanco, Megan Fossey, Erik A. Nelson, and Kristina O'Brien; great grandchildren Seth and Alana Mamer, Shane Nelson, Bowen Blanco, and August Fossey, as well as sons-in-laws Michael Keeler and Jim Michael. She received great care at St. Andrew's Village in Mahtomedi and Cerenity in White Bear Lake. Barb was preceded in death by her beloved husband Curtis Nelson and her parents Harvey (Chappie) and Ruth Chapman.