Wyman August Nelson died on Monday, December 28, 2015 in Cokato. Wyman was born on September 26, 1928 at home in Cokato Township to Albert William Nelson and Amanda Sophia (Hanno) Nelson. He grew up in Cokato, was confirmed at the Cokato Apostolic Lutheran Church, and graduated from Cokato High School in 1946. After serving in the United States Navy, he attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He then graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.
On August 2, 1950 he married Ramona Jean Bergstrom in Cokato, Minnesota. To this marriage, were born Michel Wyman Nelson, Mark David Nelson, and Wade Thomas Nelson and they later adopted Rhonda Lee Nelson. They also hosted Paa Kwesi Nduom of Ghana as an exchange student and always thought of him as another son. Following Ramona’s death in 2002 after 52 years of marriage, Wyman married Gloria Schramm – he was blessed to be lucky in love twice.
Following graduation from law school, Wyman worked for the legal department at St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (now Travelers) in St. Paul and Omaha, Nebraska. He then started a private law practice with Mark Sullivan and Robert Schieffelbein in Minneapolis. After the appointment of Clifford Olson as a judge in Wright County, local bank presidents C.E. Mitchell and Richard Peterson approached Wyman about moving to Cokato and establishing a law practice there because Cokato no longer had a lawyer. He agreed and the family moved to Cokato in 1961. Wyman maintained a private law practice up and until 1990 when he became the Wright County attorney full-time. He previously served in that capacity on a part-time basis. He retired in 1998 at age 70.
Wyman was a long-time member of the Cokato school board, serving during the time that country schools were consolidated and later during the lead up to the merger with Dassel schools. He was instrumental in the creation of Cokato Charitable Trust which owns and operates the Cokato nursing home and assisted living facilities. He and Ramona were long time members of the Cokato First Baptist Church. He was an Eagle Scout and served as Scoutmaster of the Cokato Troop as an adult. Wyman was proud of his Finnish heritage and connection as the great-great grandson of Lars Levi Laestadius. It was a ritual for Wyman to bring viili (made from the original yogurt culture that accompanied the Greku family when they emigrated from Finland) to the courthouse staff in Buffalo on St. Urho’s Day.
Wyman was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ramona; brothers Lyle and Earl; and, sisters Erna Blatt and Ruth Roberson. He is survived by wife Gloria; sister Lavona (Kayo) Dokken; son Michel (Rebecca) and granddaughters Jennifer and Anika; son Mark (Mona) and grandchildren Anna, Samuel, Manda (Bryan) DiDonato, Kristina and Paul (Kate); son Wade; daughter Rhonda (Jeff) Menken and grand children James (Rosella) Jorgenson, Riana (Kyle) Klaustermeier, Ricky Nelson, Chance Menken, and Chase Menken. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren children and Gloria’s three daughters, Jo Ellen Axness, Beth Schramm, and Sarah Schramm.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Cokato on Saturday, January 2nd at 2:00 o’clock p.m. Visitation will take place on Friday, January 1st at the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Memorials preferred to Cokato Historical Society or Alzheimer’s Association.