Wayne David Nelson

Wayne David Nelson, age 56, of Cosmos, MN passed away on November 26, 2025. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos, MN, at 10:00 AM. A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos, MN, and will continue one hour prior. 

The service will be live-streamed at www.johnsonhagglund.com.

Wayne Nelson was born on November 27, 1968, to Donald and Deanna (Petersdorf) Nelson, in Litchfield, MN. On December 15, 1968, Wayne was baptized as a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos, MN, and on April 15, 1984, was confirmed. He received his education at Cosmos High School and graduated as a member of the Class of 1987. In 1989, Wayne furthered his education at Willmar Vocational School for welding fabrication. On June 24, 1989, Wayne was married to ex-wife Beth Ellen Radtke in the town of Cosmos, which joyfully gave him his one and only child, Breanna. After his education, Wayne went on to be a dairy farmer and raised crops on the home farm, while raising his daughter. In 2006 Wayne started a career at Falcon Industries as a fabricator for the last 19 years while continuing to farm.

Wayne enjoyed fishing, go karting, driving his ATV, riding motorcycles, playing video games, and setting off fireworks; he especially enjoyed his golden retrievers, trap shooting, hunting, and his time at bear camp. Throughout his life he was involved in dart and pool leagues alongside Pam and his friends. Wayne loved spending time with his grandkids and family, where he was known best as a jokester. When Wayne wasn’t working on the farm, he enjoyed taking his daughter, nieces, and nephews out bowling, to the movies, shopping, and to the Big Kauna in Spicer.

Wayne is survived by his daughter Breanna (Travis) Whitcomb of Cosmos, MN; grandchildren Theodore, Quinten, and Emmalynn Whitcomb of Cosmos, MN; siblings June Anderson of Rosemount, MN, Dean (Donna) Nelson of Grove City, MN, Penney (Ron) Blankenship of Litchfield, MN, and Lyle (Patty) Nelson of Cosmos, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Deanna Nelson, grandparents Lorraine and Lyle Petersdorf, grandparents Clara and Erwin Nelson, nephew Dwayne Anderson, fiancé Pamela Stafford and other extended relatives.

Blessed be his memory.