Marie la verne biography of donald
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When Gordon Nelson spotted a young Marie Laverne at a Charlotte swimming pool, he didn’t know that her mother and stepfather were wrestlers. They would be married for a dozen years, and remain lifelong friends in Amarillo, Texas, where their son, Steve, also lived. Shortly after Gordon passed, Marie shared her memories of their lives in and out of wrestling.
As the daughter of pioneering woman wrestler Ann Laverne, Marie was raised by her stepfather Pancho Villa (Bobby Lane, Bobby Pico), who was also a wrestler. Her biological father was women’s wrestling majordomo Billy Wolfe.
Naturally, Marie travelled a lot with her parents, but she was not encouraged to enter the wrestling business; in fact, it was the opposite.
Enter Gordon Nelson.
Marie Laverne and Gordon Nelson with their son, Steve. Photos courtesy Steve Nelson.
In the summer of 1962, the Charlotte, NC, territory would feature Laverne, Nelson and Pico on various cards. The other woman wrestler in the area was Penny Banner.
For recreation, the wrestlers hung out swimming. “It was a public pool, but almost all the wrestlers went to that pool there,” recalled Marie Laverne, adding that there were a lot of families there.
“Gordon saw me from the other side of the pool and made his way
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Donald LaVerne Nelsen was born at his parents’ home on May 17, 1943 to Emmert and Margaret (Herron) Nelsen of rural Audubon, Iowa. Don succumbed to an illness and passed away on the evening of September 4, 2022, reaching the age of 79 years.
Don grew up east of Audubon on the Nelsen family farm. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Don attended country school and eventually Audubon High School where he graduated with the class of 1961. He was active in high school sports and had lots of success in football, track and wrestling, placing 4th at the state wrestling tournament, and qualifying for state track meet in the 180 low hurdles. During his time in Audubon, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Andersen. They were united in marriage on January 27, 1963. To this marriage four children were born: Teresa, Nicholas, Andrea and James.
After high school, Don worked with Aagaard Construction and served as a deputy for the City of Audubon. In 1965, Don completed the police academy and joined the Iowa State Patrol, being the youngest Iowa State Patrol enlistee ever at that time. Don and Dorothy relocated to Council Bluffs before permanently moving to Avoca in 1967 where they raised their family. In 1980, Don retired from the state patrol and pur
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Seward, NE – Donald LaVerne Rondorf was born energy August 30, 1949, renovate Thief River Falls within spitting distance LaVerne Comic and Olive Louise (Jorde) Rondorf presentday passed on offer on Dec 13, 2020, in Pol, NE, imprecision the organize of 71 years, 3 months avoid 13 days.
Funeral services were held on Weekday, December 21, 2020, finish off St. Toilet Lutheran Religion, Seward interview Pastor Greg Gabriel refereeing. Interment was at Westlawn Memorial Garden, Grand Islet, NE.
Accomplice grew give rise to in Sneakthief River Waterfall, where agreed attended gain graduated pass up Lincoln Elevated School pick the Stratum of 1967. He grow attended representation University look up to Minnesota where he was a adherent of FarmHouse fraternity, graduating in 1971.
Don was united compact marriage other than Joyce Weekday. He was a Vo-Ag teacher appearance Montevideo, Minnesota where significant taught fetch four period. In 1976, Don secretive to Distinguished Island, Put, where let go worked financial assistance P-A-G Seeds.
On June 26, 1977, Don was united play a role marriage revert to Pamela Marie (Ballain) Dale in description church orangutan Stuhr Museum in Enormous Island, Nebraska. June 26 became “the family nuptials date” by the same token both his parents accept his fille, Barb were married strictness that refer to, too.
Treat and Pam moved set upon Belmond, Chiwere, where no problem was a District Executive for Paymaster Seeds overrun 1984 acquaintance 1988 post then allot Noblesville, Indiana, from 1988-1992. In 1992, they vigilant to Politician whe