Gwendolyn (Gwen) Anita (Nelson) Netjes

Gwendolyn (Gwen) Anita Netjes, 89, of Willmar, peacefully passed away Sunday, November 14th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.  Her funeral will be 11:00 am, Friday, November 19th at Harrison Community Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer with interment in Oakside Cemetery, rural Atwater.  Visitation will be from 4-6 pm, Thursday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. www.hafh.org  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Harrison Community Presbyterian Church. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook site.

Gwen was born July 7, 1932, in Harrison Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the daughter of Vernon and Florence (Dahl) Nelson.  Gwen was baptized and confirmed at Harrison Community Presbyterian Church.  She grew up in rural Spicer where she attended District #4 Country School and graduated from Atwater High School in 1950.  She continued her education at St. Cloud Teacher’s College, graduating in 1952.  Following graduation, Gwen taught school in Chandler.

On September 6, 1953, she was united in marriage to Nelvin Netjes at Harrison Community Presbyterian Church.  They lived in Chandler until 1967 until they moved to Kandiyohi and then in 1969, they moved into Willmar.  After Nelvin started North Central Refrigeration, Gwen stayed home and helped with the office work for the business.

Gwen was the oldest Lifetime Member of Harrison Presbyterian Church and an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Ladies Group.  Gwen cherished the many Sundays spent at her parents’ home on Green Lake following Sunday worship at Harrison.  This family time remained of greatest importance throughout her life. Whether, serving coffee to guests, sending birthday cards to her family and friends, or simply calling them, she always wanted her loved ones to be together.  Gwen’s compassion and concern for others was genuine.  She enjoyed visiting with friends in person or on the phone and offering prayers for their needs. 

Surviving her are children: Bradley Netjes of Willmar, Janel (Loren) Olson of Spicer, Jalaine (Greg) Goeser of Willmar; and two granddaughters, Samantha Goeser and Alexis (James) Meyer; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Nelvin in 2010, and sister, Karen in 1996.

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