Krista Nelson
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our sister, Krista Lou Nelson, age 74, on September 8, 2026 after an extended illness and stay at the Fir Lane Rehabilitation facility in Shelton, Washington. Born on March 25, 1952 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to Robert and Phyllis (Ziemendorf) Nelson, Krista grew up in small town Wisconsin, graduating from Horicon High School in 1970. She was outgoing and cheerful, and loved to make people laugh. She enjoyed the proverbial High School Musicals, at one time playing a standout Mammy Yokum in the musical “Li’l Abner” and was a natural at drama and performing.
After high school, Krista ventured out to explore a completely different lifestyle, moving to southern California, returning to Wisconsin only to visit her parents, siblings, longtime friends and to attend the occasional class reunion. While in California, she attended and graduated from the Dick Grove School of Music, using her talents to host karaoke in local clubs. She subsequently moved to Texas for a brief time, then followed some friends to Washington State, where she obtained employment with the State of Washington as a Drivers’ License Examiner. Her siblings would tell you driving with Krista in the car was never the same after this. Krista returned to California for a time, but eventually moved back to Aberdeen, Washington where she returned to state employment as a tech in the IT Department for the Washington State Department of Corrections until her retirement.
Wherever she went, Krista collected close friendships that became her local “family”. She was an avid cat lover and spent a lot of time visiting the kittens and volunteering at PAWS of Grays Harbor, Washington. Most days you could find her reading her latest favorite book, reading being one of her favorite hobbies, or binge watching some of her favorite TV shows she recorded on TiVO. Krista loved taking solo “road trips”, traveling back to Wisconsin, down to California and various other places by car. One of her favorite trips was to Deadwood, South Dakota where she met her sister, Nanci, for a “sisters” trip and spent time taking in the local history and casino hopping, one of her other passions.
Krista is survived and will be missed by her sister, Nanci (Stephen) Schmidt, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and brother, Steven (Nancy) Nelson, Appleton, Wisconsin and a close friend, Marti DeBandt, Hoquiam, Washington, who was instrumental in overseeing her care when her health declined. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Donna Nelson, and a brother, Tommy.
The family is being assisted by Emerald Cremation and Burial of Shelton, Washington. No memorial service is planned at this time. Any donations can be made in Krista’s honor to your local animal shelter for kitty care.
