Daily Nonpareil Council Bluffs IA Aug 13th 2004 Mark Alan Nelsen, 55, lost his battle with cancer on Aug. 11. He passed peacefully, in Council Bluffs, in the arms of his loving wife, Chris. Mark was born Aug. 8, 1949, and was blessed to Martin and Patricia Nelsen (Leddy). Mark was a 1968 graduate of Missouri Valley High School. Following graduation, Mark served four years in the United States Navy (1968-72), where he was presented with an award for Superior Service in USS Proteus(AS-19) in May 1969-November 1970. The last 25 years of his life, Mark was employed with the Union Pacific Railroad, in the position of foreman in the bridge and building department. Mark married Chris (Lustgraaf) Jones on Dec. 30, 1992. In his leisure life, Mark enjoyed woodworking, camping and boating with friends and family. His most enjoyable moments were spent at a family cabin near La Cygne, Kan., where he was able to spend a couple of his final days. Mark is preceded in death by his infant granddaughter, Halee Lasen. Mark is survived by his wife, Chris Nelsen (Lustgraaf) of Council Bluffs; daughter Ashley Nelsen of Blair; daughter Amber Poppen and husband George and grandson Aidan; son Dana Nelsen, all of Longment, Co.; stepson Nathan Jones and wife, Roxie, of Independence, Mo.; stepson Scott Jones of Council Bluffs, stepdaughter Stacy Larsene and husband, Carl, of Lee Summitt, Mo. Additionally, Mark is survived by his parents, Martin and Patricia Nelsen of Missouri Valley; brother Blake and wife Lynn of Council Bluffs; sister Kay Mocha and husband, Bob, of Missouri Valley; brother-in-law Marlin Lustgraaf of Missouri Valley, brother-in-law Kevin Lustgraaf and wife, Shelley, of Phoenix; father-in-law Marlowe Lustgraaf and wife, Betty, of Edwardsville, Kan.; mother-i n-law Angela Smith and husband, Glen, of Missouri Valley. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 13, at McCurdy Funeral Home in Council Bluffs. Funeral services will be held at the First Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Branson Cemetery in Loveland with military honors provided by American Legion Post 337. There will be a luncheon following at the Rand Center in Missouri Valley.