Peggy Janet Nelson Houseman, 81, of Bouton died Thursday, March 2, 2017, at 8 p.m. at the Pearl Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Perry, Iowa.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, March 8 at 1 p.m. at the Peoples Cemetery in rural Woodward. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 7 from 4-8 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home in Perry. Memorials will be given to the family and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Peggy was born in Cunningham, Kan., June 6, 1935, to Floyd and Dorothy Clark Nelson.
She graduated from Perry High School in 1953.
Peggy worked several jobs: as a nursery school teacher, waitress at the Elks Club and a receptionist at the Pattee Hotel.
She liked bowling, reading, being with family and friends, playing cards, scratch tickets and enjoying her favorite person, Elvis Presley. She mostly enjoyed getting together with her kids and grandchildren.
She married Lester Dee Houseman, the son of Lorenzo Dee and Minnie Mae Ashcraft Houseman, June 16, 1953, at the First Christian Church in Perry.
Lester joined the Army and for 20 years she got to travel to different states and countries. Peggy enjoyed her traveling with Lester and their children.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Lester Dee Houseman; her son, Gary Dee Houseman; her parents, Floyd Nelson and Dorothy Nelson Griffith; one brother, Lloyd Nelson; a nephew, Rodney Nelson; and a brother-in-law, Larry Houseman.
She is survived by three daughters Pam (Kevin) Jacobs of Bouton, Debbie Houseman of Bouton and Karen (Bruce) Ireland of Ankeny; five grandchildren, Jason and Kristy Ireland of Ankeny, Sammi Jo (Jeff) Kost of Marion, Iowa, Wes (Rona) Jacobs of Van Meter and Dexter (Kelsey) Jacobs of Des Moines; four great-grandchildren, Charlotte Kost of Marion, Jack and Samone Jacobs of Van Meter and Beckett Jacobs of Des Moines.
Also surviving her are four brothers, Harold (Nancy) Nelson of Naples, Fla., Bob (Karen) Nelson of Spanaway, Wash., John (Nancy) Nelson of Cedar Rapids and Jack (Kathy) Nelson of Omaha, Neb.; two sisters, Alice (Jim) Leehey of Waterloo and Sally (Al) Childs of Yuma, Ariz.; two sisters-in-law, Margaret (Harlan) Den Beste of Perry and Joyce Flanders of Ankeny; many nephews; nieces; and other relatives.
